Mumbai, July 28 - Known as much for her roles in classics like 'Anuradha' and 'The Householder' as for her ageless elegance, Leela Naidu died here Tuesday after a prolonged illness. She was 69.

Born to an Irish mother and an Indian father, Leela Naidu was crowned Miss India in 1954. Vogue had also named her as one of the 10 most beautiful women in the world along with Maharani Gayatri Devi.

She forayed into films with Hrishikesh Mukherjee's 1960 'Anuradha' as the bored housewife married to an idealistic doctor played by Balraj Sahni. The film didn't do well at the box office, but got the National Award for best film.

In 1962, Leela Naidu was seen in 'Ummeed'. But it was her role in 'Yeh Raaste Hain Pyar Ke' (1963) that got her fame and popularity.