Yesteryears noted actress Padmini died of a cardiac arrest in Chennai Sunday night. She was 74.

The actress, who was also a well-known Bharatanatyam dancer, died in Apollo Hospital.

She has more than 250 films to her credit. She has worked in Tamil, Malayalam, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada films. She is the aunt of well-known south Indian actress Shobhana.

Just a day before her death, she attended a function organised by the Tamil film industry to felicitate Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi.

Born in Poojappura in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on June 12, 1932, Padmini forayed in filmdom in 1949. She was the second of the famous 'Travancore Sisters' along with Lalitha and Ragini.

She acted in the legendary Raj Kapoor classic "Mera Naam Joker". Some of her other memorable films are "Vaasna", "Aurat", "Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai", "Kaajal", "Apsara" and "Mujrim".

She has also acted in "Iru Malargal", "Engaluckum Kalam Varum", "Arasilankumari", "Maragatham", "Raagini", "Madurai Veeran", "Mangayar Thilakam", "Oka Talli Pillalu" and "Mr. Sampat". She acted in hit Malyalam film "Nokketha doorathu Kannum Nattu".

She left her flourishing cine career after her marriage with K.T. Ramachandran and settled in the US. She started the famous Padmini School of Fine Arts there.

The funeral will take place after the arrival of her son, who lives in the US.