Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor paid tribute to former Finance Minister Arun Jaitley following his demise on Saturday, August 24. The senior BJP lawmaker passed away at the age of 66 at Delhi's AIIMS hospital. After the hospital made the official announcement of his demise, Anil Kapoor took to Twitter and paid homage to the veteran political leader. 

Anil Kapoor recalled the time when he met Arun Jaitley about 20 years back and said that he been a huge admirer of the politician since then. Anil Kapoor further mentioned how Jaitley's demise is a 'huge loss for the nation' and stated that he will be 'truly missed'. Anil Kapoor concluded his post extending heartfelt condolences to the family of the former FM.

READ | Former Union Minister Arun Jaitley Passes Away At AIIMS In New Delhi

Sharing a picture of Arun Jaitley, Anil Kapoor wrote, "Met Shri #ArunJaitley Ji almost 20 years back for the first time & has been his admirer ever since. His demise is a huge loss for our nation. Will be truly missed. My heartfelt condolences to the family." 

Here's his post:

READ | Arun Jaitley Passes Away: Lata Mangeshkar Pays Tribute To Former FM

Arun Jaitley battling illness

Arun Jaitley, 66, was battling prolonged illness and was admitted to AIIMS on August 9th this year. He was visited by several top leaders of the country since his admission. President Kovind visited AIIMS on the day of his admission to the hospital, PM Modi visited him immediately after his return to the country from Bhutan. Union Minister Home Minister Amit Shah was also present in the hospital on August 11.

Arun Jaitley was announced dead by AIIMS earlier in the day, who in a statement revealed that he took his last breath at 12:07 PM. 

READ | Read Manmohan Singh's Condolence Letter To Arun Jaitley's Family

Arun Jaitley's political journey

Arun Jaitley involved in politics since his time as a student. He was a member of the ABVP and served as the President of the Delhi University Students Union in 1974. Like a number of his contemporaries in the BJP, Arun Jaitley was put under preventive custody for fighting the Emergency as part of the JP movement, the clampdown on him lasting 19 months. Later, he rose to become the president of the Delhi ABVP and its All India Secretary.

READ | PM Modi Pays Tribute To Arun Jaitley, Says He Was A 'political Giant'

Arun Jaitley is best known for having served as the Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs in the first Narendra Modi government has also held portfolios of Defence and Information and Broadcasting. It was Arun Jaitley who rolled out the GST in 2017 which saw India becoming a unified market for goods and services for the first time, and was also the first chairman of the GST council, is widely credited for forging consensus leading to the Constitutional amendment that eventually passed the GST Bill.