Amitabh Bachchan in a 'stable' condition in hospital after testing positive for Covid-19

The beloved Bollywood actor and his son, Abhishek Bachchan, have been hospitalised in Mumbai

Amitabh Bachchan in 'Deewaar'. Courtesy Shutterstock

Amitabh Bachchan and Raakhee in 'Hindi Love/Kabhi Kabhie'. Courtesy Shutterstock

Amitabh Bachchan in 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'. Courtesy Shutterstock

Rekha, Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan in a scene from 'Silsila'. Courtesy Yash Raj Films

Rani Mukherjee and Amitabh Bachchan in 'Black'. Courtesy Yash Raj Films

Amitabh Bachchan, Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio in 'The Great Gatsby'. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures

Amitabh Bachchan, right, and Dhanush, left, in 'Shamitabh'. Courtesy Hope Productions

Parth Bhalerao and Amitabh Bachchan in 'Bhoothnath Returns'. Courtesy T-Series

From left, Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan and Deepika Padukone in 'Piku'. Courtesy MSM Motion Pictures

Amitabh Bachchan in 'Wazir'. Courtesy Reliance Entertainment

Amitabh Bachchan in a scene from the Bollywood movie 'Pink'. Courtesy Rashmi Sharma Telefilms Limited

Amitabh Bachchan in 'Badla'. Courtesy Red Chillies Entertainment

Farah Andrews

Amitabh Bachchan is in a stable condition, a hospital official and government health authorities said on Sunday, when giving an update on the beloved actor's health, after he was hospitalised with Covid-19.

The Bollywood star, 77, tested positive for the coronavirus and was admitted to hospital in India on Saturday. His son, Abhishek Bachchan, 44, also tested positive and is "stable with mild symptoms", say authorities.

Both father and son confirmed that they tested positive for the highly infectious virus on Twitter. They have been admitted to the Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.

Minutes after Amitabh, known as Big B among fans, tweeted that he had contracted the virus, Abhishek confirmed that he had also tested positive.

Amitabh's wife, Jaya, has tested negative, however, Abhishek's wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, 46, and daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan, 8, have both tested positive. Jaya will be tested again, say authorities.

Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, with their daughter, Aaradhya. All three have tested positive for Covid-19. EPA

“A total of 16 people from the family have been tested, including guards and maids. Other reports will come tomorrow,” said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's commissioner, Suresh Kakani. “As Aishwarya and Aaradhya are both asymptomatic, BMC will take a written declaration from them if they want to take treatment at home. Or else, they will also be shifted to hospital.”

Sanitisation is under way at Amitabh's Mumbai home. A sanitisation team have been photographed spraying disinfectant in the compound and on cars parked outside.

BMC officials hang a notice on the main door of the residence of Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, after he tested positive for Covid-19. AFP

In June, India's film industry reopened sets and resumed shoots after a hiatus caused by a nationwide lockdown in late March.

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However, there are strict rules in place and actors over the age of 65 are barred from being on set – a rule that affected Amitabh.

Filmmakers are barred from shooting wedding scenes or fight sequences that have long been Bollywood staples, with kissing and embracing scenes also off limits.

Coronavirus cases have been rising steadily in India. According to John Hopkins University, the virus has infected more than 849,000 people in the country and killed more than 22,000.

Additional reporting by Reuters 

Updated: July 12, 2020, 1:45 PM