Amitabh Bachchan underwent an MRI and CT scan of the abdomen at Nanavati Hospital here late on Monday night.

Amitabh arrived at the hospital accompanied by actor son Abhishek and family physician Jayant Barve. Hospital sources confirmed that Amitabh had undergone the scan and had left for home thereafter. He had arrived at the hospital past midnight.

Some close sources also reveal that Big B might also undergo another surgery, this time for hernia, which doctors noticed during the November operation.

Post his illness, and the failure of two of his action films Ek Ajnabee and Family, filmmakers planning similar films with Amitabh Bachchan are doing some serious re-thinking. Besides, audience reaction suggests that they are not interested in seeing Bachchan as the gun-toting angry man with an attitude anymore. They would rather have him play the soft and dependable patriarch.

Taking the cue, the first producer to revise his casting plans accordingly is Bunty Walia. His comedy-cum-action film Just Punjabi featuring Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt has undergone some change. Now, with the new casting, Sanjay Dutt will play the role originally earmarked for Bachchan while Abhishek will step into the role essayed for Sanjay Dutt.

Where does Bachchan Sr fit in, given the new scheme of things? "There is another role for him now, a much softer character than the one he was meant to be doing earlier," says Walia.

"This is in keeping with what the audiences want to see of Amitabh Bachchan. I think Ravi Chopra's Babul has got it right. The film features him as a powerful family figure, fiercely protective of his family."

While Just Punjabi, has hit on the new formula for a re-invented Bachchan image; it remains to be seen how many producers will follow suit?