Simple food, a little yoga and staying away from mishti dahi, that's what keeps the reigning star of Hindi cinema Amitabh Bachchan fit and fine at 64.

The veteran actor, who has donned many a role in a career spanning nearly three-decades, let out his fitness mantra during a television interview.

The thespian, whose illness made banner headlines and caused a nationwide concern, however, finds the attention a bit embarrassing.

"I am always embarrassed and a little awkward about receiving this sort of attention," Bachchan, who is convalescing in Goa, told NDTV.

The veteran actor has been voted NDTV's Urban Indian of the Year through a nationwide poll.

Bachchan said he was grateful for the love that he get from people from all walks of life.

But what about his success mantra?

"Being a lethal combination of a Sardar my mother was one and a Bong because of Jaya," a visibly relaxed Bachchan quickly added, the channel said in a release.

He rated his early years in Kolkata as ‘among the happiest' in his life. "You are young, living alone, earning your first salary you tend to be happy," he said.

A proud grandfather he is, Bachchan said his other sources of happiness include his grandchildren, and the chemistry he shares on and off screen with his son, Abhishek.

The channel had voted Congress president Sonia Gandhi as the NDTV Indian of the Year. Bachchan also congratulated her and said she deserves it for leading Congress to power.