CHENNAI, India (AP) — Hospital authorities say South Indian actress-turned-politician Jayaram Jayalalithaa has died at age 68.

The Apollo Hospital in the southern Indian city of Chennai said Jayalalithaa died at 11:30 p.m. local time Monday after undergoing surgery following a heart attack on Sunday night.

Jayalalithaa inspired intense loyalty among film and political fans alike, and was widely known as "Amma," which means "Mother" in the Tamil language.

She had been hospitalized in September in Tamil Nadu's capital of Chennai after suffering from fever, dehydration and an unspecified lung illness. As her condition reportedly deteriorated, thousands prayed outside the hospital for her recovery.

She worked on nearly 150 Tamil-language movies, many as a romantic lead, before following her mentor into politics. She was Tamil Nadu's chief minister for more than 15 years, and was praised for her efforts in fighting rural poverty.

This story has been corrected to read that Jayalalithaa suffered a heart attack on Sunday night, instead of Monday.