Former big screen superstar turned TV deity Amitabh Bachchan on Thursday paid off nearly half the dues amount of Rs203.1 million his company, ABCL (rechristened AB Corp), owed to the national broadcaster.

Bachchan has also promised to return the rest of the outstanding dues in three instalments next year during March, June and September.

Bachchan presented a cheque of Rs96.5 million to Prasar Bharati CEO RR Shah in New Delhi at a press conference where Samajwadi Party leader and close friend Amar Singh was present. He had recently given a cheque of Rs5 million to Prasar Bharati. Bachchan said that to pay towards the interest of his dues of Rs 123.5 million, he would participate in Doordarshan's public interest programmes.

Among the 75 companies which had outstanding dues against Doordarshan, the government-owned NFDC topped the list owing over Rs630 million followed by ABCL and Multi channel as of November this year.