“I am truly overwhelmed and immensely pleased to be the recipient of such a distinction,” 69-year-old Bachchan said after receiving his fourth doctorate for his contribution to the world of entertainment. Amitabh Bachchan added that he wishes to see the bonds between India and Australia strengthened.

“The recognition of my contribution to Indian cinema and its effort to reach out to an international community fills me with intense pride and humility - pride for being able to be a link between Australian and Indian professionals of the film and creative industries and humility for a chance to be the medium in doing so. May this help strengthen the existing bonds between our two countries,” he said.

This is the fourth doctorate awarded to the actor. He was earlier conferred upon by the De Montfort Univ, Leicester UK, Jhansi University and the Delhi University. The actor had two years back turned down the honorary doctorate from QUT as a mark of protest against racial attacks on Indian students. The prolific actor is playing a shady businessman Meyer Wolfsheim in 'The Great Gatsby'.