Gone Too Soon – Bollywood Mourns Sridevi’s Untimely Death in Dubai

B-town is heartbroken at the loss of versatile and loved actor, Sridevi.

Sridevi in her different avatars.

(Photo: Image altered by The Quint)

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

Those expressive eyes and the mischievous smile sent hearts aquiver and lit up the cinema screens, making Sridevi Bollywood's first female superstar.

54-year-old Sridevi’s demise on 24 February night, was reportedly due to cardiac arrest in Dubai, where she had gone to attend her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding.

The sudden demise of the veteran actor has sent shockwaves throughout the Indian film industry with many Bollywood celebrities, cricketers and politicians expressing their condolences.

The news of Sridevi's death spread like wildfire. Actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, who worked with Sridevi in Sadma, the Hindi remake of their 1982 Tamil film Moondram Pirai, wrote on Twitter that the lullaby 'Suramayi ankhiyon mein' from the movie haunts him now.

Have witnessed Sridevi’s life from an adolescent teenager to the magnificent lady she became. Her stardom was well deserved. Many happy moments with her flash through my mind including the last time I met her. We both were very fond of each other. Sadma’s song rings in my ears now. I think that’s a very great lullaby for the very talented and beautiful Sridevi.

Kamal Haasan, Actor and Politician

Actor-BJP MP Hema Malini said Sridevi's death is a loss to the Indian film industry, which would never be compensated. “Sridevi's sudden passing away has left me in deep shock,” she said.

Bollywood stars on Sridevi’s Birthday.

Her Chandni and Nagina co-star Rishi Kapoor said he was in complete shock to wake up to the news of Sridevi's death.

"Woken up to this tragic news. Absolute shock. Sad. Heartfelt condolences to Boney and their two daughters!" he wrote. The actor has also changed his profile picture to an all-black image in mourning.

The Prime Minister’s office tweeted a message of condolence for the late actor.

Aamir Khan said Sridevi will always be remembered with love and respect.

Sachin Tendulkar today mourned the sudden demise of Sridevi, saying it is hard to digest that the veteran actress is no more.

It is really sad I have no words to express what I feel because we all grew up watching her. And to suddenly to hear that she is no longer with us is hard to digest.

Sachin Tendulkar, Cricketer

Madhuri Dixit, one of Sridevi's contemporaries, also took to Twitter to mourn her demise.

Anupam Kher, who has collaborated with Sridevi in films such as Chaalbaaz, Karma, Laadla and Chandni among others, said he cannot bring himself to talk about the actor in past tense.

Director Subhash Ghai called the actor "the uncrowned queen of acting in all languages in her times".

I am deeply grieved for this shocking loss. Sridevi has not been one of the finest actors but <i>the</i> finest actor of Indian of cinema since 1985. An introvert by nature, she was electricity with thunder in front of the camera. She would shock directors by each shot taken with her on the sets, may it be dance drama or romance.

Subhash Ghai, Director

Sridevi posing with her daughter, days before her death at her nephew’s wedding in Dubai.

Other B-town celebrities also took to social media to share the shock.

Sridevi’s fans are still in a disbelief. With many of them waiting outside her house in Mumbai, to catch the last glimpse of their loved actor.

Juhi Chawla made her debut in the Hindi film industry with Sridevi's 1986 film Sultanat. She took to social media and also revealed how their daughters share the same name.

Saroj Khan, the choreographer who composed most of Sridevi’s vivacious and graceful dance sequences seemed shellshocked like most of the B-towners on the actor’s sudden demise.