Tiger gave Indian cricket ‘rockstar’ image: Big B

New Delhi: Indian cricket legend Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi’s demise took Amitabh Bachchan down memory lane. The Bollywood megastar not just remembers good moments with the sports star, but says that he gave the game of cricket a ‘rockstar’ image.

The former Indian captain died Thursday, after battling a lung infection for about a month. He was 70. "Sad news…Tiger Pataudi passes away!!! Fond memories of the past with Tiger Pataudi…his wedding, playing cricket with him, his tabla playing prowess, social evenings…(He) gave Indian Cricket a `rockstar` image, with grace and dignity...soft spoken, quiet, straight-faced humour and a `tiger` on the pitch!" Amitabh posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. The 69-year-old actor was not just friends with Pataudi, but was also a close associate with the latter`s wife, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore. Together, they worked on films like ‘Chupke Chupke’ and ‘Viruddh... Family Comes First’. Amitabh also shared screen space with Pataudi`s actor son Saif Ali Khan in Prakash Jha`s ‘Aarakshan’. He extended his condolences to the family, which also consists the cricketer`s two daughters - Soha and Saba. "May the Almighty give strength to the family to bear this great loss…Rinku di (Sharmila), Saif, Soha, Saba…condolences and in prayer," added Big B. IANS