Amar Singh: Reel to real

Lucknow, Dec. 27: Amar Singh is one of Amitabh Bachchan’s biggest fans, but he probably hadn’t bargained for a Deewar being played out in his own life.

The Samajwadi Party leader’s estranged brother Arvind Singh today joined the Congress, giving it a handle to embarrass Amar and adding the latest episode to the serial family frictions making news recently.

Amar would not have trouble finding sympathy or advice. At least two of the country’s most well-known sibling schisms involve Amar’s close friends: Bachchan, who has for years had an uneasy relationship with Ajitabh, and Anil Ambani, who fell out with Mukesh.

The break-up of the Singh brothers ? Arvind is younger by a year and a half ? had a whiff of the Ambanis’ about it. The duo, who jointly owned a chemical plant in Ghaziabad, fell out over its ownership.

“Amar Singh threw me out,” the taller and thinner Arvind told reporters.

Arvind had then been in the Samajwadi Party ? which he today dubbed “casteist”. He had joined the party before the May 2004 polls and campaigned in the Azamgarh area.