The antique scooter driven by Amitabh Bachchan in his next catapults its owner to fame; astronomical sums being offered for its possession

In the trailer and posters of his upcoming film 'TE3N', Amitabh Bachchan zipping around on a blue scooter with Nawazuddin Siddiqui riding pillion can barely be missed. Its owner had probably not imagined that the time-worn two-wheeler could some day become an object of desire for many - until recently.

For the film's shoot, the scooter had been procured by producer Sujoy Ghosh and director Ribhu Dasgupta in Kolkata where the film has been shot extensively. It belongs to Sujit Narayan Sur, an automobile vendor based in Tollygunge, and he is now inundated with offers from the veteran star's fans and collectors of antique items, ready to pay a big price for it - apparently several lakhs. However, Sur has refused them all.

"The scooter has been with me for the last 13 years. I had given it to the film unit when they approached me with the sketch of a scooter they had created for Amitabh Bachchan's character to drive around on because this one matched their requirements. I was thrilled that Mr Bachchan would ride my scooter which is at least two decades old," says Sur.

Big B had taken a fancy to the vintage scooter on the sets of the film. Prior to the shoot, he even drove it around to get a hang of it.

Sur has vowed not to part with the two-wheeler again. He says, "I will not be able to give it for hire. I want to keep it in my house with a huge photo of Mr Bachchan. The scooter that the star rides is priceless. So, there is no question of selling it."