30 p.m.

and was accompanied home by his wife Jaya Bachchan. "He is doing absolutely fine and finally he is going back home," a source from the hospital said.

First pics: Amitabh Bachchan leaves hospital The 69-year-old actor too was eagerly awaiting his "moment of freedom". "Freedom !!! free from central line, free from all kites, free to sleep without precaution.

..

.Now await to be free from hospital !! (sic)," Bachchan wrote on twitter.

On Tuesday, Big B had tweeted: "Looks like a few more days..

. before they set me free.

..

but recovery at home will be another few months. Getting independent gradually.

..

a careful shower avoiding the cuts and needles and 'kites'..

. pretty dexterous exercise," he wrote.

Earlier this week, hospital sources said that as his health is improving he might get discharged in a day or two, something which has now been ruled out. Mr Bachchan said in his recent blog post that the doctors seem to be satisfied with his recent improvement in health.

"The meetings of the morning with the team of doctors..

the most trying for the patient. As you await results of their assessment, you wonder what new discovery they may have found that would immerse you in further treatment.

But happy to note that they seemed satisfied with the progress and after a few closed door discussions, came back with a few points that would bring relief to any sufferer." "A welcome day! many aspects improving, many reports positive, smiling satisfied faces all around.

..

your prayers work so well..

. Hunger pangs swell for the first time.

..

docs say its good sign..

. hope so," Bachchan had tweeted.

"The 'kites' gradually and slowly disappear..

. 'kites'? Yes, the various drips and tubes stuck into the body.

..

I used to tell this to Abhishek and Shweta when they showed dismay and fear in 1982 hospital visits..

. 'kites'!!," he added further.

The actor even watched the India-Australia match on Sunday (February 19, 2012). "Saw some Tv.

..

the India-Australia match! Sad we lost, but some bizarre moments by the umpires..

.! pressed wrong button?," Mr Bachchan had said.

On Saturday (February 18, 2012) Big B showed signs of improvement and the doctors at Seven Hills Hospital decided against another surgery on him. "He was supposed to undergo second surgery as he had developed pain post the first surgery.

However, there is no hassle as such..

.he is not critical but under observation," sources from the hospital had said.

Doctors treating the superstar went into a huddle when he suffered fresh pain in the abdomen. The superstar went through two abdominal surgeries on Saturday (February 11, 2012).

He was taken to the Operation Theatre where doctors inserted a "central line" through an incision on the neck. "The night started off with great apprehensions, what with the temperature of the fever going up - always a dangerous signal.

But the mercury fell during the night, or in todays terminology the digital reading in these modern contraptions, showed improvement and by the morning there was a freshness and hope of repair. Soon after wards though, the additional pain that has developed in the abdomen, apart from the surgical, kept doctors busy and going into a huddle.

When ever they do that I always surmise there is something more than normal in the patient. Heavy dosages of even more antibiotics were pumped in, and to facilitate this operation they had to wheel me in to the OT again to put a 'central line', through an incision on the neck, "he posted on his blog.

Amitabh Bachchan is a voracious social networker. He keeps his fans up-to-date on his health through his tweets and blog posts.

The Big B recent visitors included actress Tabu. "The wonderful Tabu visited today and spent sizable time, talking of many connected and unconnected issues.

Of film and nature, of quality and appreciation and of course her own considerations on the kind of films she wanted to be associated with. A joy always to be with her," he posted on his blog.

Earlier, Anupam Kher and wife Kirron, Sanjay Dutt and wife Maanyata and other industry colleagues have visited the hospital too. In the early hours of Wednesday (February 15, 2012), Amitabh Bachchan daughter-in-law Aishwarya brought her three-month old daughter to the hospital too.

Undoubtedly, she would have been the grandfather's most special visitor yet. (With inputs from PTI) Tweet (less)