Sick Bollywood superstar 'stable'
By Monica Chadha
BBC News, Mumbai
Mr Bachchan is a legend in Indian cinema
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is in a stable condition in hospital and has been told to rest, his doctors say.
Mr Bachchan was admitted to Leelavati hospital in the western Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) late on Monday night complaining of abdominal pain.
Doctors said tests had confirmed that he was suffering from inflammation of the large intestine, or colitis.
The 63-year-old actor said he felt unwell on Sunday and was treated first in Delhi before being taken to Mumbai.
Liquid diet
"Routine investigations and reports have confirmed that he is suffering from inflammation of the large intestine known as colitis," vice president and spokesman for the hospital, Dr Narendra Trivedi, told the BBC.
Colitis is a bacterial infection usually caused through food or water.
Dr Trivedi said the actor had been put on a liquid diet and prescribed additional medicines. He said it was up to Mr Bachchan if he left hospital on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mr Bachchan complained of feeling unwell while attending a function in the northern city of Lucknow and was flown to Delhi for initial treatment on Monday.
But he said he wanted to go to Mumbai so that his family physician could treat him.
Mr Bachchan has shown no sign of slowing down as he has got older.
He has had 11 film releases so far in 2005 and another two are lined up for December - more than he has had during any of his 40 years in cinema.
