Affection and grief
> Tributes pour in for Bollywood superstar Sridevi
MUMBAI: India yesterday mourned Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor after her death in Dubai aged just 54, as police in the emirate said she drowned in her hotel bathtub.
The body of Sridevi, one of the biggest names in Hindi cinema, had been due to be brought back to Mumbai on Monday by charter flight.
It was not immediately clear however when Dubai authorities would release it.
Hundreds of heartbroken fans gathered outside her Mumbai home hoping to catch a final glimpse of the star before her cremation, now likely to take place today at the earliest.
Initial reports had cited a heart attack as the cause of her death late Saturday at a hotel in the emirate, where she had been attending a nephew’s wedding.
“The death of Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment’s bathtub following loss of consciousness,” Dubai police tweeted, citing an autopsy report.
Police have now referred the case to the public prosecutor.
Tributes kept pouring in for the actress and fans gathered outside her home for a second day.
Actor Priyanka Chopra wrote on Twitter: “I have no words. Condolences to everyone who loved Sridevi. A dark day. RIP.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: “She was a veteran of the film industry, whose long career included diverse roles and memorable performances.”
Cricket star Sachin Tendulkar said: “We all grew up watching her, and suddenly to hear that she is no longer with us is hard to digest.”
Actor Aamir Khan tweeted: “I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the untimely and tragic passing away of Sridevi.
“I have always been a huge fan of her work. Equally I have always been an admirer of the grace and dignity with which she conducted herself.
Actress Alia Bhatt posted on Twitter: “Nothing makes sense. I have no words ... just completely shocked. RIP Sri Devi. ”
Born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Sridevi appeared in Tamil-language films in the 1960s and 1970s, eventually dropping out of school to pursue acting full time.
In a career spanning five decades, she appeared in 300 films and was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2013.
Taking a break from acting following her marriage to producer Boney Kapoor in 1996, she made a return with Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish in 2012, playing a housewife taking English lessons.
Last year’s Mom, in which she played a mother avenging her daughter’s sexual assault, marked her final appearance.
She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Jhanvi, 20, and Khushi, 17. – The Independent/AFP