/> Saturday October 10, hours before the Big B brings in his 67th birthday, a unique never-before-never-again homage to the super-icon has been planned by the co-producers of Rann.

40 Bachchan fans who also happen to be actors will be dressed as 40 of the Big B's most memorable characters from his films to celebrate 4 decades of the icon's existence in the industry.

Giving out details of this unique homage Sheetal Talwar says, "In every sense Mr Bachchan's 40-year journey in Hindi cinema is exceptional. He started in 1969 with Saat Hindustani, and that's where our staged homage begins. The first Big B clone for the evening would represent a character from Saat Hindustani."

The homage would go through 40 celebrated Bachchan characters from Zanjeer, Sholay, Deewaar, Amar Akbar Anthony.... Black, etc. The homage will conclude with a junior artiste dressed as the Big B in Sarkar.

Getting 40 actors who were Bachchan fans was easy.

Says Talwar, "It wasn't difficult at all. We let it be known in the industry that we were planning a clones' tribute to Mr Bachchan for his birthday. We were flooded with requests from dozens of artistes who wanted to play the various characters in front of Mr Bachchan."

Talwar and his business associate Madhu Mantena sifted through the legion of applicants. "We finally found the fortunate 40 who fitted the Bachchan bill, " says Talwar happily.

These 40 Bachchan clones would take the stage in front of the super-icon from 7 pm onwards at the PVR in Juhu tonight (Saturday 10 Oct).

"Mr Bachchan thinks we're inviting him to an event related to Rann. He doesn't know about the homage, " says Sheetal Talwar happily.

We hope Mr Bachchan isn't reading this.