Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was conferred India's Global Icon of the Year award at the NRI of the Year awards here.

 

 The 71-year-old, who has been ruling the film industry for over four decades now, dedicated the award to the younger generation of actors in the film industry. "I want to thank Times Now (news channel) and ICICI Bank for honouring me with this (NRI) award," Big B told reporters Monday here at the awards red carpet.

 

 "I think I am not the only one person who should be honoured with this award. In fact, there are many of my friends in the entertainment world, especially the actors of the younger generation because of whom our film industry is known in the whole world, so I would like to dedicate this award to them," he added. The awards, presented by Times Now in association with ICICI Bank, were given to the achievers who have made their mark internationally.

 

 Meanwhile, Big B, who made his movie debut with "Saat Hindustani" in 1969, recalled his early career and said: "During that time (when I started my career) I didn't have much releases, but I started doing the stage shows (the world over) around 1980s and then I came to know how much we (actors) are loved by them (people outside India) and how much we love them."

 

 "Since then it is still continuing and…I would like to thank them all," he added. Currently, the megastar is busy promoting his next "Bhootnath Returns", slated to release April 11. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the sequel to 2008 film "Bhootnath", also features Shah Rukh Khan and Ranbir Kapoor in cameos.