There was a marked improvement in the condition of superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who talked to visitors and read newspapers on Tuesday, hospital sources said.

Meanwhile, the actor continued with liquid diet after intravenous fluids were discontinued on since Monday, except for antibiotics and vitamin supplements, sources said.

They added that a series of tests are likely to be performed on the actor soon, so as to decide when the actor can be discharged from hospital.

The megastar, who underwent surgery for diverticulitis of small intestine at Lilavati on November 30, met close friend and industrialist Anil Ambani, besides family members including wife Jaya, son Abhishek and daughter Shweta.

Producer Yash Chopra, actor Mithun Chakraborty, producer Boney Kapoor and his wife Sridevi, visited the hospital and are believed to have met Amitabh to express wishes for a speedy recovery.

According to hospital sources, the guest book maintained outside the ICU, where everyone intending to express wishes for Amitabh is asked to pen down the wishes, was thick with the names of the who's who of Bollywood.

The 63-year-old actor has assured that he will write back personally to each of the persons writing in the guest book.

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