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Actors Anil Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor arrived at the airport with Anshula Kapoor (Sridevi’s step-daughter), to receive Sridevi’s mortal remains.
The actor, who ruled Indian cinema for around five decades, passed away from "accidental drowning" on 24 February, in Dubai. The actor was in the country to attend a family wedding earlier in the week.
Although initial reports suggested that the cause of her death was a cardiac arrest, forensic reports later stated that Sridevi drowned in her hotel room’s bathtub following a loss of consciousness. After almost three days of investigation and procedural delay in Dubai, the Indian superstar’s mortal remains reached Mumbai on Tuesday, 27 February.
Earlier on 27 February, the Dubai Public Prosecutor's Office put an end to speculation about the cause of her death, saying she accidentally drowned in the bathtub after losing consciousness, and that the case was “now closed". However, it did not say what caused the 54-year-old superstar to lose consciousness.
Sridevi’s body arrived at the Mumbai airport at 10:30 pm on Tuesday evening, following which she was transported in an ambulance to her Lokhandwala residence. Her fans and celebrities gathered in large numbers to bid the veteran actor a final adieu.
The actor was accompanied by husband Boney Kapoor, and step-son Arjun Kapoor and brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor on her final journey from Dubai.
Sridevi's funeral will take place on Wednesday, 28 February in Mumbai, the family said in a statement.
In a detailed announcement, the family said her body will be kept at Celebration Sports Club in Lokhandwala for people to pay their last respects before it is taken for cremation.
The statement said that well-wishers can pay their condolences from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm at Celebration Sports Club, Garden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West.
"The last journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery." The cremation will take place at around 3.30 p.m.
Salman Khan arrives at Sridevi’s residence in Lokhandwala to pay his respects to the deceased actor.
Arjun Kapoor left Sridevi’s residence in the wee hours of Wednesday, 28 February. Earlier on Tuesday, Arjun flew to Dubai to help his father Boney Kapoor.
Actor Rajpal Yadav has spoken about Bollywood’s loss on Sridevi’s demise.
Music composer Bappi Lahiri, who worked with Sridevi in 11 successful films, told IANS that he would like to dedicate the song "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" to her memory. "Never say goodbye! She will always remain an integral part of our industry. She will always remain our superstar."
Around 100 policemen are on duty around Sridevi's Lokhandwala building since Tuesday night and around 250 cops are expected to be deployed today to provide security for her last rites.
"We have provided additional security at the residence in order to avoid law and order situation," Mumbai police spokesperson, Deepak Devraj told PTI.
There’s also heavy security around Celebration Sports Club in Andheri-Lokhandwala, where Sridevi’s mortal remains will be kept for people to pay tributes.
Fans have been gathering around Sridevi’s residence since last night for a last glimpse of their favourite star.
A separate passage has been made for fans at Celebration Sports Club to have the last glimpse of Sridevi.
Jatin Valmiki, a visually impaired man from Uttar Pradesh, has been waiting outside the house since two days. The actor had helped him financially during his brother’s brain tumour operation. “Sridevi ji mere bhai ke brain tumour ke operation ke liye help ki thi. Uss samay unhone mujhe 1 lakh ki madad ki & hospital se 1 lakh maaf bhi karwaaye. Unki wajah se mera bhai aaj zinda hai. Main kuch nahi kar sakta unke (Sridevi) liye, lekin main kam se kam unki antim yatra mein toh shaamil ho hi sakta hoon,” he said.
On behalf of Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor, the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families, a sincere thanks to the media for your continued sensitivity and support during this emotional moment.
Kindly find all the details for tomorrow :
1. Condolences and last respects:
Date & Time: 28 February, Wednesday, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm
Address: Celebration Sports Club
Garden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400053
Please note: Media can also pay their last respects provided camera, recording devices, etc are left outside the venue.
The last journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Pawan Hans.
2. Cremation ceremony
Address: Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery, Next to Pawan Hans, SV Road, Vile Parle West
Date & Time: 28 February, 3.30 pm onwards
Residents of Sridevi’s native village Meenampatti in Sivakasi say they cannot believe the actor has passed away.
Several Bollywood personalities are lashing out on social media against the coverage of Sridevi’s demise by some TV channels. Riteish Deshmukh tweeted: “It’s a bloody circus. Some of the TV channels have dug new lows for themselves. Let’s give #Sridevi Ji & her family the dignity & respect they deserve. #LetHerRestInPeace #SrideviForever #NewsKiMaut”
Farah Khan too did not hold herself back: “Theres a special place in Hell for those who exploit a family’s grief!! RIP meant rest in peace not “ rip” off every shred of dignity!”
Swara Bhasker has called out several channels: “Have some shame @abpnewstv @aajtak @TimesNow Such cruel parasitic drivel! Using the passing of one of Indian cinema’s greatest artists to shamelessly and callously push ur own TRPs.. unethical and vomit worthy really!!!”
Sridevi’s mortal remains have been brought to Celebration Sports Club, where people will pay their last respects to the actor.
Fans, friends and colleagues would be here to pay their last respects to the actor. The Kapoors including Arjun Kapoor, Marwah family and Karan Johar have also reached the venue. The condolence meeting is scheduled to start at 9.30 am.
Colleagues, fans and well-wishers bid their favourite actor adieu.
Sridevi’s nephew Mohit Marwah, whose wedding the actor was attending in Dubai, is at the venue to pay his respects.
Other celebs too are at the venue to condole with the family.
Actor Annu Kapoor, who is at the venue, said to ANI: “It's media’s job to ask questions, it's people's call if they want to throw it in the dustbin or not. At this moment, family is in a lot of pain. Daughters have lost their mother at such a young age. We should pray for them”.
Bollywood celebrities are at the Celebration Sports Club in Lokhandwala, Andheri to condole with the Kapoor family.
Sanjay, Rhea and Harshvardhan Kapoor are at the venue to participate in the condolence ceremony.
Madhuri Dixit, Jacqueline Fernandez, Ajay and Kajol Devgn, Imtiaz Ali, Aishwarya Rai, Jaya and Shweta Bachchan are among celebrities who paid their respects to Sridevi.
Watch the LIVE here.
Sridevi will be cremated with state honours. The Mumbai Police band is at the Celebration Sports Club for the same.
A lot of celebrities are at the condolence meet for Sridevi. Vidya Balan, who featured in the revamped ‘Hawa Hawai’ in Tumhari Sulu, and Chiranjeevi, who has acted with the superstar in several films, are at the Celebration Sports Club to pay their respects.
Other celebs like Raveena Tandon, Javed akhtar, Shabana Azmi are also there to condole with the family.
Deepika Padukone, Sidharth Malhotra, Shahid Kapoor, Mira Rajput and Aditya Roy Kapur are among celebs who are at the Celebration Sports Club to pay their respects to Sridevi.
A truck, which would carry the mortal remains of the actor to the crematorium, is being decorated with white flowers.
B-Towners attended the condolence meet in large numbers. Jackie Shroff, Sushmita Sen, Ajay and Kajol Devgn, Jacqueline Fernandez and many others continue to pour in to be with the grief-stricken family.
Amul also paid a tribute to the legendary actor.
Iconic Indian actor Sridevi begins her last journey from the Celebration Sports Club to the Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery at S.V. Road in Vile Parle West. Bedecked with flowers and wrapped in the Indian tricolour, she would be cremated with state honours.
Amid tight security, the kin, colleagues, friends and celebs arrive at the Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium for Sridevi’s funeral.
Anil Ambani’s car was seen entering the premises. Ritesh Sidhwani, Anupam Kher, Arjun Rampal, Abhishek Kapoor, Javed Akhtar-Shabana Azmi and Chunky Pandey arrive at the venue.
Sonam Kapoor arrived at the venue with her mother. Most of the family members have reached the crematorium.
Fans throng outside the venue and await the procession to make its way there.
When Shah Rukh Khan’s car could not move past the crowds, he walked out of the car and strode across the street, inside the crematorium.
As a massive crowd gathers in the vicinity of the crematorium, the kin, B-towners and friends make their way inside.
Draped in an Indian flag, Sridevi was given a gun salute at the Celebration Sports Club. She has been accorded a funeral with state honours.
Sidddarth Roy Kapur makes his way to the crematorium with Vidya Balan.
Sonam Kapoor was almost mobbed by the gathering outside the crematorium.
As per PTI reports, Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor performed the last rites at the ceremony with daughters Jahnvi and Khushi by his side.
Friends, family and B-Towners come out of the crematorium after the last rites while Boney Kapoor stayed back with the family as the ceremony came to a close.
According to IANS, Sridevi's funeral is estimated to have attracted the highest number of mourners, ranking on par with the previous biggest funeral processions of the legendary singer Mohammed Rafi (July 1980: around a million mourners), and India's first superstar Rajesh Khanna (July 2012: a little less than a million mourners).
Sridevi was accorded a funeral with state honours which included draping her body in the national tricolour and a gun salute before the cremation. Bollywood bid farewell to the star at the Vile Parle cremation grounds after paying their last respects at Celebration Sports Club in Lokhandwala, Andheri. Boney, Khushi and Jahnvi Kapoor as well as Sridevi’s step-son Arjun Kapoor and brothers-in-law Anil and Sanjay Kapoor travelled with her remains in a truck as a part of the procession. Her funeral is estimated to have attracted the highest number of mourners.
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