LONDON, June 9 (UPI) -- M.F. Husain, much acclaimed and controversial Indian artist, died Thursday at a hospital in London where he'd lived in self-imposed exile, family sources said.
He was 95.
Maqbool Fida Husain, who started life as a cinema poster artist and rose to become so popular he came to be known as "Picasso of India," died at Royal Brompton Hospital following a weeks-long illness, Press Trust of India reported, quoting family sources.
Husain, whose bold paintings fetched huge sums, left India in 2006 after becoming controversial among some Hindus who were enraged over his nude paintings of Hindu goddesses, the BBC reported.
Supporters of Husain lamented the artist could not return to India because of alleged threats.
While in India, the artist won several honors including the nation's second highest civilian award and served as a member of India's upper house of parliament, PTI said.
