Mumbai: Paying heed to film star Amitabh Bachchan's request for more security in the wake of anonymous threat calls, the Union Home Ministry has directed the Maharashtra government to tighten security cover for the actor-turned television anchor, an official spokesman said Sunday.

The spokesman said the 58-year-old actor had written to Union Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani that he was receiving threats.

Sources said that security has been beefed at the actor's residence in Andheri.

Bachchan, who attended the muharat shot of a Hindi teleserial on Chatrapati Shivaji here, however, refused to comment anything on this matter.

Mumbai police said it had received information that Veerapan might also kidnap thespian Dilip Kumar and actress Hema Malini.

UNI