Mumbai, Oct 11 (IANS) The news of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan being hospitalised on his 66th birthday Saturday caused consternation the world over, prompting fans to wish him “get well soon”.Amitabh was celebrating his birthday at his Mumbai residence Pratiksha when he suddenly complaiend of severe pain in his abdomen Saturday morning.

He was rushed to the Nanavati Hospital and then shifted to the Lilavati Hospital after a preliminary medical check up.

And his worried fans across the world think that Big B, as he is fondly called, should cut down on work considering his age. Students from abroad have also expressed concern over the veteran’s health.

“I have been following his films since childhood as I am a great fan of his. I can’t think of his going down on health. He should really not stress himself that much at this age as he is above 65 and cut down on his work,” Sabitri Chakraborty, an M.Sc student at the London School of Economics, told IANS in an email interview.

Deepti Malhotra, a post-graduate public relations student at the University of Auckland, New Zealand heard the news on television and was yearning to know more.

“Is he okay? We got to know on TV and since then I have been exchanging text messages with my Indian friends here. We really look up to him as a great actor but he should realise now that he is getting old and should pay heed to his health,” Malhotra said over the phone.

Another Big B fan, Anuprita Survase of Mumbai, said the actor is an inspiration for many people and upcoming stars aspire to follow in his footsteps.

“I hope he gets well soon. It’s chaos all over after we heard the news. I wish I could at least go to Lilavati and get a glimpse of him,” said Survase, an executive assistant at Welingkar Insitute here.

Prarthana Garg, a CA aspirant from PKF Sridhar and Santhanam (PKF S&S) firm, Chennai echoed this, adding: “He is such a mesmerising artist who has given direction and definition to the Hindi film industry. I pray he gets well soon.”

In Kolkata, where Amitabh started his career as an executive and also has a temple in his name, fans could not help but praise the actor and were praying for his speedy recovery.

“He is an artist of huge stature and we also have a temple after him where people literally worship him,” said Punit Agarwal, a businessman from Kolkata who has a copy of every Bachchan film available on VCD and DVD.

“He is an institution for all. I wish he gets well soon and pray for his speedy recovery.”

Another fan also added that it was ironical for Big B to fall ill on his birthday.

“It is ironical that he has fallen sick on his birthday. I wish him good health for the upcoming year thought it has started on a sore note with all the physical hazards troubling him,” said Kushal Chand, another CA aspirant from the PKF S&S firm.