Superstar Amitabh Bachchan ready for action ...

Indo-Asian News Service

London, July 22 (IANS) Fresh from receiving a honorary doctorate in Leicester last week, Indian film legend Amitabh Bachchan has announced that he had almost recovered from his recent illness and would soon resume shooting in August.

Bachchan received the honorary doctorate of arts from the De Montfort University on July 19.

During his weeklong visit here, he has been fawned upon by British members of parliament, ministers and others in several functions to felicitate him.

After being honoured in an early day motion in the House of Commons, Bachchan visited the House Friday night for a dinner and helped raise over 25,000 pounds for the victims of the train blasts in Mumbai.

The dinner was hosted by Leicester East MP Keith Vaz, who has been by Bachchan's side throughout his visit to Leicester on Wednesday. Bachchan thanked the gathering of MPs, Lords and others for their help for the victims of Mumbai blasts.

During his visit to Britain, Bachchan did not show any signs of ill health, as he kept all his many appointments. He said he would resume shooting from August for nine productions he was currently engaged in.

Bachchan has often made known his dislike for the word 'Bollywood' on the ground that the Indian film industry had a standing of its own and should be seen in its own right. It did not need to be seen through the eyes of Hollywood, even in the way it is being described as 'Bollywood'.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said it was equally unrealistic for the Indian film industry to aspire for Oscars.

He said it was 'offensive' to suggest that Oscars were the ultimate recognition for any great Indian film.

Bachchan said the Indian film industry had its own awards, including the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), which had increasingly gained international recognition. The 2007 IIFA awards are to be staged across towns in Yorkshire.

"Whereas we respect the Oscars and what they are, our creativity is the best," he said and welcomed the merging of western Indian film genres in films such as Gurinder Chadha's 'Bride and Prejudice' and 'Bend it Like Beckham'.

He said he had never appeared in Hollywood films but if approached, he would consider acting in such films.