Tamil superstar Rajnikanth, admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre here, is improving after advanced treatment, including hemodialysis, doctors attending to him said Thursday.

The matinee idol was admitted to the hospital for recurrent respiratory infection and gastro-intestinal problems May 13 and was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) Wednesday to improve his breathing pattern.

"In case of disease, symptom relief is the first sign of recovery. It is so here in this case. The laboratory parameters are improving which also indicates path of recovery. The interventions in this case are hemodialysis and ultra filtration, which have helped him appreciably, " said a hospital medical bulletin Thursday.

"Because of various consequences, there was fluid overload and (this) necessitated advanced treatment, ultra filtration and some amount of hemodialysis, " the bulletin said.

Earlier, allaying the fears of Rajnikanth's fans, his wife Latha Rajnikanth and his attending doctor told reporters that the actor is cheerful, progressing well to medication and is also cracking jokes.

"All his organs are fine and functioning well, " Latha said. This was confirmed by S. Thanikachalam, senior doctor and part of the team of specialists attending to the superstar.

According to Thanikachalam, the actor ate two idlis, one vada and also plantain stem rasam Thursday.

He said the actor may be transferred to a private room Thursday or Friday.

Latha said the imbalance created by an infection is being rectified and pleaded for privacy. She also denied reports that the actor is suffering from renal problems.

"He is not going to any other hospital. We are taking good care of him. He had an infection, that he could have contracted anywhere. It created an imbalance in the body, which is being corrected, " reiterated the doctor.

This is the third time in over three weeks the matinee idol has been admitted to a hospital.

He was admitted to St. Isabel Hospital April 29 after a bout of vomiting, and was discharged in the evening.

On May 5, he was again admitted to the ICU of St.Isabel Hospital after allergic bronchitis and fever.