Renowned theoretical physicist and recipient of Padma Shri, Professor Thanu Padmanabhan died due to cardiac arrest in Pune on Friday, a former colleague said. He was 64. He was a distinguished professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA). Prof Padmanabhan has written over 300 papers in international journals and also authored several books, with important contributions in areas of gravitation, quantum gravity, and structure and formation of the universe.