Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and son test positive for COVID-19

APD NEWS

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Amitabh Bachchan, one of India's best known movie stars, has tested positive for COVID-19 together with his actor son Abhishek Bachchan, they said late on Saturday.

"I have tested COVID positive ... shifted to hospital ... hospital informing authorities ... family and staff undergone tests, results awaited," Amitabh Bachchan, 77, said in a tweet.

Amitabh Bachchan, 77, said he has tested COVID positive in a tweet. /CCTV

Minutes later, his 44-year-old son Abhishek Bachchan also tweeted he had been infected.

"Both of us having mild symptoms have been admitted to hospital. We have informed all the required authorities and our family and staff are all being tested," Abhishek Bachchan said.

The Bollywood actors were admitted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment hub.

Across India, fans, politicians, fellow actors and businessmen wished the pair a full and speedy recovery.

Despite a stringent lockdown, the new coronavirus has infected over 820,000 people and killed over 22,000 in India.

In the previous 24 hours, India recorded 27,114 cases, making it the nation with the third-biggest outbreak behind the United States and Brazil in confirmed infections.

Mumbai has recorded over 84,500 COVID-19 cases, of which 4,899 have died.

(REUTERS)