London, Jun 10 (Agencies): The funeral of celebrated painter Maqbool Fida Husain will be held in London on Friday. MF Husain, who was hailed as the Picasso of India but was forced to live in self-imposed exile from India due to threats from religious radicals, died in London's Royal Brompton hospital on Thursday. Husain had been suffering from lung problems for last month and a half.

Indian High Commission to Britain has also expressed grief over the demise of the legendary artist Maqbool Fida Husain.

“Husain’s death is an immense loss to millions of his admirers across India, the UK and the world. We mourn his passing away. In his death, the world of art has lost a person of prodigious talent who had opened up new horizons for other painters,” the High Commission said in a statement here on Friday.

“The High Commission of India sends its heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family. At this difficult moment, we pray that God may give them the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” the statement added.

In India, MF Husian's death has been mourned not just by the film and artists fraternity but by India at large with the PM Manmohan singh saying that his death was a national loss.

A recipient of Padma Vibhushan in 1991, Husain had been suffering from age-related ailments for several months and had hospitalised. Sources say that his last rites would be conducted in London and not in India.

His sons and daughter were with him when he died.

The artist was in self-imposed exile since 2006 as some of the right-wing groups had threatened him for his controversial paintings.

While the Indian government failed to bring him back when he was alive, his death was widely mourned in the country.

"A man of multi-dimensional talent, his death would create a deep void in the world of art and creativity," said President Pratibha Patil.

"It is a national loss," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Husain had accepted Qatari citizenship last year.