Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is saddened by the demise of "simple, practical and caring" former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, recounts how he had one opportunity of having a telephonic conversation with the genius.

The 72-year-old, on his blog, shared: "A simple man, of childlike demeanour, practical, caring and endearing to all...my only achievement of contact with him - a telephone conversation just before he was announced to be the next President of India. India is grieved."

Kalam died on Monday evening in Shillong, where he was delivering a lecture at a premium educational institute.

"Sudden end to an iconic figure...the brain behind the phenomenal presence of India in science, missile technology and several other achievements connected with space research and putting India on the world map in these facilities,` Big B added.

The `Piku` actor also prayed for strength for the bereaved family.

`In such moments of grief it becomes difficult to indulge in what we would term as a routine and normal communication through this medium. But, we remember him in prayer and in our condolences to his near and dear ones,` Amitabh further posted.