Eminent Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, father of Bollywood mega star Amitabh Bachchan, fell ill on Wednesday.

The 96-year-old poet complained of breathlessness.

His condition forced Amitabh to cancel his engagements for the next couple of days, family sources in Mumbai said.

Doctors from Bombay Hospital attended on the senior Bachchan, who has been ill for a long time.