Bollywood superstar Sridevi has died after a heart attack in Dubai hotel Emirates Towers on Saturday night. She was aged 54.
She was in the Emirates for the wedding of her nephew, Raag Desh actor Mohit Marwah, to stylist Antara Motiwala.
Anil Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan, Karan Johar and more Bollywood stars also attended the wedding, which was at the Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah.
“This was shocking to all of us. We are still in a state of shock and are heartbroken,” said Sanjay Kapoor, the younger brother of Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor and Sridevi’s brother-in-law. He arrived in Dubai following news of Sridevi’s passing.“She passed away in the hotel itself. There was no heart problem she had that I was aware of,” he said.
Mr Kapoor said the family are now awaiting the results of the autopsy and are conscious of the legalities overseas.
“People have been really helpful and are trying to do their best. Everybody has to do their job. This is the normal procedure when something like this happens suddenly. We naturally have to abide by the country we are in.”
Dubai Police's forensic team will carry out an autopsy and then prepare the body for repatriation to Mumbai. Once the paperwork is completed and the body is returned to India, a death certificate will be issued and her passport will be cancelled by Indian authorities in Dubai.
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Her career
She started her film career at the age of four and went on to appear in more than 275 films, many of them major hits. She used one name, like many leading ladies of her generation, and was known for her comic timing and her dancing skills, a great asset in the song-and-dance melodramas that are a staple of mainstream Indian cinema.
She was considered one of the first female superstars of Bollywood with broad appeal across India for her appearances in regional language films. She was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour in 2013.
Here she is in one of her signature song-and-dance films, 1983's Himmatwala:
Her acting career began as a child in regional cinema in India's south and she made her debut in Hindi-language Bollywood films in the late '70s.
Her most famous films included Mr India, in which she played a reporter, and Chandni, where she played a woman choosing between two men who loved her. She played dual roles of a woman and her daughter in Lamhe, or Moments in 1991.
After her marriage to film producer Boney Kapoor, the Bollywood star, who is survived by her husband and two daughters, stopped acting for several years but made a well-received comeback in 2012 with English Vinglish, a movie about a middle-aged woman learning English.
The tributes
India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, tweeted condolences from the official PMOIndia account:
Saddened by the untimely demise of noted actor Sridevi. She was a veteran of the film industry, whose long career included diverse roles and memorable performances. My thoughts are with her family and admirers in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in peace: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 25, 2018
Here are some of the other tributes posted to Twitter by Bollywood stars:
I have no words. Condolences to everyone who loved #Sridevi . A dark day . RIP
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) February 24, 2018
I just heard Ma’am Sridevi passed away due to a massive cardiac arrest. I am in shock...cant stop crying...
— sushmita sen (@thesushmitasen) February 24, 2018
Shocked beyond words to hear about the sad and untimely demise of #Sridevi. A dream for many, had the good fortune of sharing screen space with her long ago and witnessed her continued grace over the years. Thoughts and prayers with the family. RIP 🙏🏻
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 25, 2018
This is how I will always want to remember #Sridevi - Happening, Vibrant, Brilliant, Beautiful, Bestest and Unique.🙏🙏 #QueenOfIndianCinemaSridevi pic.twitter.com/Om4Yi0IbxR
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) February 25, 2018
Shocked to hear the sad news. The first Lady Superstar of the Country. 50 of those 54 years as an actress par excellence. What a journey..and such an unexpected end. May your soul rest in peace.
— rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) February 25, 2018
Sridevi garu 🙏🙏🙏
Heartbroken & shocked to hear that my all time favourite #Sridevi is no more. May god give peace to her soul & strength to the family #RIP
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) February 24, 2018
Shocked and devastated. An amazing talent and my favourite performer passes on. A tremendous loss to the industry.
— Jaaved Jaaferi (@jaavedjaaferi) February 24, 2018
“Bijli giraane main hoon aayi, kehte hain mujhko hawa Hawaii” RIP dear #Sridevi. pic.twitter.com/nBrhmAlPlz
Have witnessed Sridevi's life from an adolescent teenager to the magnificeint lady she became. Her stardom was well deserved. Many happy moments with her flash through my mind including the last time I met her. Sadma's lullaby haunts me now. We'll miss her
— Kamal Haasan (@ikamalhaasan) February 25, 2018
There's nothing more heartbreaking than losing someone you look up to tremendously. Sridevi was the magic that made us believe in the beauty of cinema. Still can't believe she's no more. Darkest day for cinema. RIP #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/xuFwS9iq1B
— Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks) February 25, 2018
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