Shah Rukh prays for Basu`s recovery

Kolkata: Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan on Monday wished ailing Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu speedy recovery and said the country needs people like him hale and hearty.

Shah Rukh, who was in the city to attend a practice session of his Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) T20 cricket team, said he refrained from visiting the Salt Lake hospital to see Basu only to ensure that there was no disturbance there. "When I was coming to Kolkata, I was thinking of dropping at the hospital. But I decided not to go as my visit may disturb the situation as also the family members," Shah Rukh said. He recalled his acquaintance with Basu years ago when he came here for a film promotion drive. "It is very sad that Basu is in hospital and not well. I pray to Allah that he gets well soon," he said. PTI