TV and film actor Sidharth Shukla dies of heart attack

He is survived by his mother and two sisters

Actor, model and TV host Sidharth Shukla, best known for his role in the TV shows 'Balika Vadhu' and Dil Se Dil Tak', and winning the 13th season of 'Bigg Boss', died in Mumbai following a suspected cardiac arrest.

He was 40.

The fitness-freak actor, who also played tennis and football, is survived by mother and two sisters.

According to reports, he was found motionless in the morning and was rushed to the Cooper Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on admission.

The post-mortem report is not yet in public domain.

The police visited his Mumbai home and conducted a panchanama, details of which are not yet available.

Shukla’s PR team in a statement said: “All of you have heard the shocking news, we are as much in shock as you all are. We have a request We really want all of you to respect and stand with us during these tough times”

They requested the media to give his family and loved ones space and let them grieve. “Sidharth was a private person, so please respect his privacy, his family’s privacy,” the brief statement said.

Shukla attended St Xavier High School in Fort and later did a bachelor’s course in interior design from Rachana Sansad School of Interior Design.

Shukla debuted with a lead role in the television show 'Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na' in 2008.

Shukla’s role in the television series 'Balika Vadhu' in 2012 had earned him widespread popularity.

In 2014, he appeared in the Bollywood movie 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania' as a supporting actor.

“Gone too soon Siddharth.. u shall be missed. Condolences to the family .. RIP,’ tweeted actor Salman Khan as he joined celebrities to pay tributes to the young actor, who had a bright future.

Shulka was in a relationship with actor and singer Shehnaaz Kaur Gill and they were popularly known as SidNaaz among friends.

Her father Santokh Singh Sukh was quoted saying: “I am not in the condition to talk right now. I cannot believe whatever has happened. I spoke to her (Shehnaaz Gill). She is not fine. My son Shehbaaz has left for Mumbai to be with her and I will be going later.”