CHENNAI: Actress A Sakunthala, popularly known as C.I.D. Sakunthala, passed away on Tuesday evening in Bengaluru. She was 84. Her family members told her that she had age-related illnesses.

She was taken to a private hospital this evening where she was declared dead.

Sakunthala forayed into cinema as a background dancer and went on to act in over 600 movies across the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada film industries.

C.I.D. Sakunthala is known for several notable films including Nethaji (1996), Naan Vanangum Daivam (1963), and Kai Kodutha Deivam (1964).

She played the heroine opposite Jaishankar in C.I.D. Shankar (1970) after which she

began to be fondly addressed as 'C.I.D. Sakunthala'. Her last feature film was Ponmaanai Thedi in 1998. She however continued to act in several television serials until 2019.

Members of the film fraternity have expressed their condolences over her demise on social media.