Amar Singh passes away at 64; here's a look at his relationship with Amitabh Bachchan

Rajya Sabha MP and former Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh passed away at 64, on Saturday. Singh was undergoing treatment in Singapore for kidney-related ailment over the past few months.

The former Samajwadi Party leader was very close to Amitabh Bachchan family for many years, calling himself Bachchan's brother. They had a fallout in 2010 when Singh was expelled from the Samajwadi Party. Jaya Bachchan, however, chose to avoid siding with Amar Singh and retained her association with the party.

Singh had said that he did not quite appreciate Jaya Bachchan, who was brought into politics by him, for siding with SP chief Mulayam Singh and staying back in a party that "humiliated" him.

However, this year in February, Singh took to Twitter and said he regretted his 'overreaction against' Amitabh Bachchan and the Bachchan family.

"Today is my father's death anniversary and I got a message for the same from Amitabh Bachchan. At this stage of life when I am fighting a battle of life and death I regret my overreaction against Amit ji and family. God bless them all (sic),"  Singh wrote on Twitter.

Earlier today, Singh wished everyone Eid Mubarak on Twitter. He also paid a tribute to freedom fighter Kokmanya Gangadhar Tilak on his death anniversary.

Meanwhile, Prime Ministr Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the family of Amar Singh and  tweeted, "Amar Singh Ji  was an energetic public figure. In the last few decades, he witnessed some of the major political developments from close quarters. He was known for his friendships across many spheres of life. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his friends & family. Om Shanti".

Amar Singh Ji was an energetic public figure. In the last few decades, he witnessed some of the major political developments from close quarters. He was known for his friendships across many spheres of life. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his friends & family. Om Shanti.

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 1, 2020

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- Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) August 1, 2020

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari wrote that he felt sad to hear the news of the demise of Amar Singh. "May his soul rest in peace".

- Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) August 1, 2020

Singh was first elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1966 from Uttar Pradesh. He was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha in June 2003, as well as, in 2016 from UP only. Over his decades-long political career, Singh was part of a number of parliamentary committees.

Singh was born on January 27, 1956, in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh. He was an alumnus of the St. Xavier's College and University College of Law, Kolkata.