Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's sudden illness has not only made his numerous fans a worried lot but also put the Bollywood film industry on the edge.

Some film analysts say that if Amitabh sneezes, it sends a chill down the film industry's spine as so much is invested on the megastar in filmdom.

Though he underwent a successful operation for perforated diverticula and jejunal perforation last night and his condition is stated to be stable, Bollywood will not be able to heave a sigh of relief till he is back in action as a whopping Rs 270 crore is at stake.

The superstar has already delivered four super hits this year and his two new releases are to hit the marquee this month. His fans and the industry are waiting with a bated breath to see how these two ventures fare at the turnstiles.

Talking to press, film analysts said the Big B's worth cannot be measured in terms of money and today he is the most saleable star in the entire industry. His popularity is more than the charm of three Khans--Shah Rukh, Salman and Saif--put together at the box office.

On December 9, Amitabh's film 'Ek Ajnabee' is to hit the silver screen in which Arjun Rampal and Perizaad Zorabian are also co-starring. His other movie 'Family' will be released on December 21 in which Akshay Kumar, Aryan Vaid and Bhumika Chawla will be rubbing shoulders with him.

He is also starring in ten other big films right now which will see the light of the day next year. Besides films, he is busy doing several commercials.

Amitabh is also acting in Karan Johar's 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehan', currently shooting in New York. He has fortuitously completed his part in the film. His son Abhishek Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherji are also in the film, expected to ber released in April next year.

In Ravi Chopra's 'Babul', his co-stars are Hema Malini and Salman Khan. Amitabh will also be seen in 'Eklavya' with Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan.

Maverick director Ram Gopal Verma is also making two flicks-- 'Darna Zaroori Hai' and remake of 'Sholay'--with the Shahanshah of Bollywood in which he is essaying the role of Gabbar Singh.

This year saw four films--'Bunty Aur Babli', 'Sarkar', 'Waqt' and 'Black'--in which the superstar made his presence felt, doing some fabulous business. While 'Bunty Aur Babli' earned around Rs 60 crore, Sarkar generated a business of Rs 40 crore. Both 'Black' and 'Waqt' also did some rip-roaring business of Rs 38 crore each in comparison to the amount spent on their making.

Plans are also afoot to make KBC-III if Amitabh could spare some time for it.

But all this has come to a grinding halt with his surgery and doctors advising him to stay in hospital at least for a week. The situation is similar to that of his hospitalisation after a mishap on the sets of 'Coolie' in 1982.