Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, affably called 'Big B', today announced an aid of Rs 11 lakh to the 'Needy Little Hearts' (NLH) scheme and interacted with 35 under-privileged children at a private hospital chennai.

The genial artiste, whose commitment to social causes was well known, spent about half an hour at the K J Hospital Research and Post Graduate Centre interacting with the children, who underwent free cardiac surgeries at the hospital under the NLH scheme.

The children presented bouquets and roses to the actor, who was all at ease in mingling with them.

Sporting his traditional 'goatee' and attired in white kurta, Amitabh also posed for photographs with the children, in the 2-18 age group.

Hospital Chief Executive Meera Jagadeesan told that the children underwent free heart surgeries at the hospital with the help of private donors and philanthropic assistance from Germany, the US and China.