Padma Shri awardee 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.
Sridevi died at the age of 54 due to “accidental drowning” in Dubai on 24 February. The actor was in the country to attend a family wedding earlier in the week.
The bereaved family - including Sonam, Rhea, Anil, Sanjay, Maheep, Sunita Kapoor as well as Mohit Marwah - released a statement thanking all the fans, and well-wishers for their support in these trying times.
“The past few days have been trying times for us as a family. Today, particularly, has been one of the hardest. We laid to rest a beautiful soul who has gone too soon. She leaves behind a legacy that is unique. Her talent was undeniable, her beauty unmatched and her ability to connect with the audience was legendary. Sri had the same connect with her family as well”.
They have also spoke about allowing the family, and especially Sridevi’s daughters, Jahnvi and Khushi be given the required space to grieve.
While fans gathered in thousands outside Celebration Ground, residents of Sridevi’s native village Meenampatti in Sivakasi had a unique way of mourning and said that they could not believe the actor had passed away.
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.
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.
Also read: Sridevi Cremated With State Honours
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