During the promotion of her upcoming film, 'Happy Phirr Bhaag Jaegi', Bollywood star Sonakshi Sinha also paid homage to the former Indian prime minister.

"Atalji's demise is referred to by many as end of an era. I, however, consider it as a continuation of the era of which he was one who laid the foundation," said Arun Jaitley.

After Vajpayee became prime minister, his alma mater published a write-up by him in the college magazine in 2002-03, which reveals more about the two.

Vajpayee's foster-daughter Namita lit the funeral pyre amidst the chanting of vedic hymns and firing of a 21-gun salute by soldiers.

During the procession, people chanted slogans like "Atal Bihari Amar Rahe" as Vajpayee's cortege made its way from the BJP headquarters to the cremation ground.

“People came from all parts of India, from all sections of society pay tributes to an extraordinary personality who made an extraordinary contribution to the nation. India salutes you Atal Ji!,” PM Modi tweeted

Vajpayee was elected from the Lucknow constituency in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004 and had represented the state’s capital in the Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms. 

An era has ended today. Atal Ji was not only ‘atal’ (enduring) in name, he was ‘atal’ in his personality, he was ‘atal’ in his ideology, throughout his life he remained ‘atal’ in honesty.

Thann Gayi Maut Se Thann Gayi was dropped from the 2014 album Antarnaad, which was dedicated to poems written by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Agvinesh alleged that the attackers were BJP workers. A video of the incident circulated on the social media showed the 79-year-old social activist being attacked by some people.

Shah Rukh Khan said he considered himself the "luckiest to have had Atal Bihari Vajpayee's influence" on his life during his "formative years".

Atal Bihari Vajpayee's popularity in Pakistan was evident by the way the media of that country covered the news of his death.

US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Indians will reflect on Vajpayee's many contributions that led to India's rise as a global and economic power.

President Kovind, PM Modi paid their last respects to Vajpayee at Smriti Sthal.

Vajpayee, the founder-president of the ruling BJP, breathed his last at 5.05 pm on Thursday at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital.

Vajpayee's last rites will be performed at 4 pm on Friday at Smriti Sthal in Delhi.

“Atal ji was happy as a father would be, when I won the by-election from Bhagalpur,” said the BJP leader.

Former team manager Ratnakar Shetty said that Vajpayee told Saurav it was an important tour and the team members should play their hearts out.

Expressing sadness over his demise, the former Congress chief said his warm personality and gift of friendship won him admirers and friends across the political spectrum and every walk of life. 

"The US grieves with India on the loss of former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee," US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster said.