It’s the final curtain call for Miss Hawa Hawai

Mumbai: The film industry and millions of cinema lovers were robbed of the immense talent and grace of legendary actor Sridevi (54), who succumbed to a cardiac arrest late on Saturday night after attending the wedding of Mohit Marwah, the nephew of her husband, producer Boney Kapoor, in Dubai.

The actor was accompanied by Kapoor and her younger daughter Khushi. As the actor’s sister also lives in Dubai, both sides of her family surrounded her in her last moments.

After the news of the icon’s sudden untimely demise broke out, the actor’s Andheri bungalow was inundated by grieving fans, who came to pay their last respects to the only female actor who earned the ‘superstar’ title.

One of the inconsolable fans who had gathered outside her residence in the scorching summer heat said, “It is just unbelievable. I will not trust the news until I see her body for myself. I shall not move from here until then.”

The film fraternity also took to social media to mourn the sudden demise of the superstar.

Megastar Aamir Khan posted a message on micro-blogging site Twitter that read, “I am deeply disturbed and saddened by the untimely and tragic passing away of Srideviji. 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. My heartfelt condolences to everyone in the family. I join all the millions of fans in mourning her demise. Ma’am, we will always remember you will you and respect. a. (sic).”

The actor’s mortal remains are to be flown in a chartered flight late on Sunday evening. Sources have said that the last rites are likely to be conducted around 1 pm on Monday at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Juhu.

Sridevi started her career as a child artiste in South Indian films at the tender age of four and went on to enjoy a career spanning five decades. She was a known face in the South Indian film industry before setting foot in Bollywood in 1979. Sridevi's credits include some of the most-watched films of the ’80s and ’90s, including Mawaali (1983), Tohfa (1984), Nagina (1986), Mr. India (1987), Chandni (1989), Lamhe (1991) and Gumrah (1993). The actor was conferred India’s fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, in 2013.

The actress married Kapoor in 1996. When she met him, she was a little wary and would ask people casually about him. No one, however, knew that Sridevi was interested in him.

Sridevi had taken a break from Bollywood to focus on bringing up her two daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi. Her comeback film English Vinglish was loved by many, and won her many accolades. Jhanvi will soon make her Bollywood debut with Karan Johar’s Dhadak. Sridevi, sadly, will not be around to see her daughter’s debut. It is ironic that both of Kapoor’s wives, Mona and now Sridevi, passed away before seeing their children’s debut.

Some netizens on Twitter have pointed out that Dubai authorities have asked for a post-mortem to be conducted due to the circumstances surrounding her death. According to Khaleej Times, Sridevi fainted in her hotel bathroom and was rushed to Rashid Hospital in Dubai. The actor died late in the night reportedly due to cardiac arrest. There are rumours attributing the cause for her death to the alleged multiple cosmetic surgeries the actor allegedly underwent.

There were conflicting reports that a post-mortem may not be conducted in India, which could ascertain what triggered the heart attack.