Amid cheers from hundreds of fans, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan carried the Olympic torch at Southwark in London on Thursday, a day before the opening ceremony of the sporting spectacle.
The 69-year-old actor, wearing a white track suit, covered a 300-metre distance, running and walking occasionally, and waved to the cheering crowd, as the Olympic Games torch relay entered the 69th day.
Ahead of his participation in the relay, Bachchan said it was a "proud moment" for him and the country to be invited to carry the Olympic flame.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki Moon and NRI businessman Lakshmi Mittal were among others who were part of the relay team.
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"OK!! HERE IT IS : Have been invited by London Olympic Organizing Committee to carry the torch in the relay tomorrow ... Honored to be asked to carry the Olympic Torch in London at Southwark around 10:30 AM !! A proud moment for me and country," Bachchan had tweeted on Wednesday.
The 32.7 mile long relay of the Olympic flame on its final leg has participation of legendary personalities from all over the world and all walks of life, including Lawrence Dallaglio, Lewis Moody, Jim Anderson, Phil Packer, Darren Fitzpatrick and Tom Davis.
Bachchan is not the only celebrity to lend an Indian touch to the 2012 London Olympics.
Indian music maestro A R Rahman has teamed up with his Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle to compose a track for the inaugural event.
"It's a track in Punjabi celebrating the Indian influence in the UK. It's a part of a medley in the Olympics opening ceremony, according to Danny Boyle's creative wishes!," Rahman had written on his Facebook page.
Ilaiyaraaja's song is also set to feature in the medley of music tracks to be used at the London Games' inauguration.
Image: Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan carries the Olympic Flame on the Torch Relay leg between The City of London and Southwark during Day 69 of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
Photograph: LOCOG via Getty Images
