Big B assists Screwvala in helping underprivileged

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who recently wrapped up shooting for "Bhoothnath Returns", says he will now join Ronnie Screwvala in his "exercise to collect funds" for Swades Foundation.

The 71-year-old is travelling to villages where Swades Foundation, run by former Disney UTV managing director Ronnie Screwvala and his wife Zarina, has been working for social welfare of the villagers. He is assisting Screwvala's foundation.

Early Thursday morning, he visited Raigad district in Maharashtra to help raise funds for the foundation, which works towards empowering rural inhabitants.

"Having finished very late last night (Wednesday) at Lonavala and the 'Party with the Bhoothnath', getting to bed almost at 5 a.m. to be up again at 6 a.m. to leave for Raigad (district in Maharashtra), by helicopter an hour away, to visit at my insistence, the work that the Swades Foundation does for the rural inhabitants," Amitabh posted on srbachchan.tumblr.com Thursday.

"It has been a most humbling experience to be in the midst of the villagers and their life and expectations and what they build so diligently and passionately. The Foundation is run by Ronnie and Zarine Screwala and I shall be joining them in this exercise to collect funds for the many activities and facilities they provide to the underprivileged."

"We tend to forget and put aside the comforts we in the city enjoy...the daily essential needs - common and of the most basic nature. It is almost embarrassing to be in the privilege we are in," Big B posted.

He is "astonished that the most elementary needs are missing among them. Yet they smile, exist and work continuously to better their condition".

"Remarkable," he commented.