Bollywood actor Chiranjeevi Sarja dies from a heart attack aged 39 as his co-stars pay tribute

Indian film star Chiranjeevi Sarja has died of a heart attack at the age of 39. 

Sarja died on Sunday at a private hospital in Bengaluru, India, after complaining of severe chest pains and breathlessness. 

The Bollywood actor was best known for his roles in 20 movies, including 2018's Amma I Love You, and is survived by his actress wife of two years Meghana Raj.

Chiranjeevi shot to fame in 2009 after appearing in Vayuputra and later in Whistle and Amma I Love You. 

He had three films released this year alone.  

The chief minister of Karnataka, India, confirmed the actor's death on Twitter on Monday morning. 

BS Yediyurappa wrote: 'It is a shock to hear the news that Kannada famous artist Shri Chiranjeevi Sarja died of a heart attack.' (Translated) 

'Premature death at an age of just 39 years is shocking. My prayers are with the family, may God give them the strength to endure this grief.' 

Apollo Hospitals Jayanagar's unit head Yatheesh Govindaiah also released a statement sharing details of Sarja's emergency hospital dash. 'Sarja was brought to our hospital [Apollo] in an unresponsive state. Attempts to revive him failed and he was declared dead by the doctors,' Govindaiah explained. 

'On examination, Sarja was found unresponsive with an absent carotid pulse, cold peripheries and bilaterally dilated pupils. 'Hence cardio-pulmonary resuscitation was started according to the latest advanced cardiac life support protocol.' 

Chiranjeevi had been dating his wife for years before marrying her in 2018. The pair often posted pictures together on social media.   

Fellow actor Sanjjanaa Galrani mourned Sarja, writing on Twitter that she's in an 'immense shocking state of mind.'20

She said: 'Cannot believe and I'm in immense shocking state of mind to know that Chiranjeevi Sarja is no more, very very saddening, my condolences to his family and [Meghna Raj] at this time of pain and sorrow.

'Cannot yet digest this fact, my hands are shivering as I write this msg .V v sad.' 

'Shocked to hear about #chiranjevvisarja's demise!!!' actress Priyamani tweeted. 'Can never forget his smiling face.' 

Chiranjeevi and Meghana often posted snaps of each other on Instagram, including in October, when Raj celebrated her husband's birthday, and in April, when the couple marked their two-year wedding anniversary.

In April 2019, Meghana captioned a picture: 'Sometimes i wonder why? Why is this man so perfect... so perfect for me?'