Amitabh Bachchan, one of India's best known movie stars, said on Saturday he tested negative for COVID-19.

The 77-year-old announced the development in a tweet, three weeks after he said he had tested positive for the virus.

"I have tested COVID-19 negative (and I) have been discharged. I am back home in solitary quarantine," he wrote.

Amitabh and his 44-year-old son Abhishek Bachchan were admitted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai on 11July after they tested positive for the virus.

Upon announcing his positive result then, fans, politicians, fellow actors and businessmen wished the pair a full and speedy recovery.

India is one of the worst affected countries globally the COVID-19 pandemic. The Asian country has registered 1,750,723 confirmed cases and 37,364 deaths.

The infections are the third highest globally, shadowed only by the United States and Brazil.