Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan is recovering steadily as he started taking liquid diet from today.

Bachchan underwent surgery on Wednesday night for treatment of ‘diverticulitis of small intestine', a condition that causes inflammation and perforation of the small intestine, at the Lilavati Hospital here.

Veteran comedian Asrani, who visited Bachchan at the hospital today, told media that the superstar has started taking a liquid diet, while adding, "Amitabh Bachchan's sense of humour is back."

According to the sources, the Sahara group chief, Subrato Roy also visited Bachchan at the hospital.

On the request of Bachchan's family, he is being kept in the ICU for some more days. While, doctors already said that he was fit to be shifted out of ICU.

Bachchan family members also met him at the ICU, with his improving health allowing the star to have a walk inside the ICU, the sources said.

Bachchan was admitted to New Delhi's Escorts hospital for abdominal pain on November 28, which was described as a minor problem by doctors. But the 63 year-old actor was later transferred to Leelawati Hospital in Mumbai after he complained of recurring stomach-ache.

Bachchan has acted in more than 150 films and through the 1970s and 1980s churned out one hit after another, playing rebel, smuggler, vigilante and other anti-establishment figures.

The silver-bearded actor, who is exhibited in wax at Madame Tussauds in London, still rides high in the popularity charts, appearing in several films and as host of the hugely popular 'Kaun Banega Crorepati'.

Earlier in 1982, Bachchan underwent surgery when he hurt his intestines while shooting an action scene for the film ‘Coolie'.