The legendary Kathak dancer, Pandit Birju Maharaj (83), breathed his last in the early hours of Monday at his residence in Delhi.
According to her granddaughter Ragini Maharaj, he got ill while playing Anthakshari with his family last night. Immediately, he was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead.
Birju Maharaj had been suffering from a kidney ailment and was under dialysis treatment for the last month due to high diabetes.
The Padma Vibhushan-awardee is well known for his excellent choreography for a song in Kamal Haasan’s Vishwaroopam. He also choreographed the Bollywood actress, Madhuri Dixit, twice.
PM Modi and many celebrities mourned the Kathak legend’s death on social media.