When nothing works, call in the superhero. After polio, the onus has once again fallen on Amitabh Bachchan to check massive power theft in Uttar Pradesh.

Bachchan, whom Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav has designated the state's "brand ambassador", will soon be appealing to people through a short film.

Bachchan, a member of the State Development Council, "has done a short film with us to spread the message against power theft. We are confident it will people understand why it is important to prevent power theft," Uttar Pradesh Power Corp chief Deepak Singhal told IANS here.

Made on the lines of the polio immunisation promotion films starring Big B, the 45-second film calls power theft a social crime with serious consequences.

"The film attempts to make common people realise that if power theft is allowed to continue, a day will come when everyone will be starved of electricity," said Singhal.

"Apart from an appeal, the film also intends to issue a warning that those indulging in power theft could end up in jail," he adds.

It is officially admitted that at least 10 percent of power, worth about Rs.750 million, is stolen every month in Uttar Pradesh.

While the Bachchan campaign may help bring down power theft by commoners, many are wondering if it will affect the systematic theft by industrialists and businessmen who are allegedly hand-in-glove with engineers and top officials of the power corporation.