Daily Times

Bollywood legend Sridevi, the queen of hearts and actress par excellence, has died after suffering a massive cardiac arrest in Dubai, as reported by Filmfare.

The sudden death of the beloved Indian star, aged 55, has sent shockwaves throughout the entire industry, with well-wishers currently rushing to her house in Mumbai following the unsettling news.

Sridevi reportedly passed away while attending her nephew’s wedding in the Emirate late Saturday night. This has prompted an outpouring of grief amongst fans and fellow actors in Bollywood as well as across the border.

The news of the revered icon’s death feels like a jagged piece of shrapnel grazing your heart repeatedly, for her unexpected demise raises too many questions.

A cardiac arrest?

How could a star so fit, so energetic and so immersed in the healthy, happy routine of her work and family life, just suddenly be gone?

The actor born as Shree Amma Yanger Ayapann, made her acting debut at the age of four and went on to have a career that would span over five decades.

From being the girl who made us obsess over yellow ethereal dupattas in Chandni to making us laugh till our lungs gasped for air in Chalbaaz, Sridevi was a magnanimous force of beauty and soul – a force to be reckoned with.

She was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, for her inimitable contribution and services to the film industry.

As mentioned above, the actor started her career at the mere age of four and continued onwards to act as a child artist in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada films.

Making her Bollywood debut as a child artist in the hit film Julie, she ended up playing her first adult role at the age of 13.

She later went on to star in numerous Bollywood hits.

Known for her ridiculously expressive, crystal clear eyes that spoke louder than words and her million-dollar smile, Sridevi gave one stellar performance after another and is said to be the ‘first female superstar’ of Bollywood.

One of the most memorable performances throughout her career was her role in Shekar Kapur’s Mr India, where she played a delightful comedy caper and acted opposite Anil Kapoor. Her dancing to the tunes in ‘Hawa Hawaii’ with absolute gay abandon, became a craze and is still an audience favourite up to date. Critics back in the day even argued that the film should have been titled ‘Miss India’ as Sridevi hogged the limelight for sure.

Ace director Yash Chopra was so fascinated with her talent that he cast her in the dual role of a mother and daughter in his film Lamhe. Commercial hits like Nagina, Karma and Janbaaz kept coming, right down to her last project, Judaai, before she bid adieu to the industry, following her marriage to Boney Kapoor in 1996 (Anil Kapoor’s elder brother and a producer in his own right).

The couple had two daughters together, Janhvi and Khushi, aged 21 and 17.

After a fifteen-year hiatus as a demure housewife, Sridevi made a powerful comeback in 2011 with Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish.

She was then seen in Adnan Siddiqui and Sajal Aly’s Bollywood debut, Mom, produced by husband Boney Kapoor and directed by newcomer Ravi Udyavar. The movie also starred critically acclaimed actor, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Akshaye Khanna.

Just a day before the news of her passing away, Sridevi was seen attending a family wedding in Dubai and in the best of health, and spirits. In fact, she looked flawlessly radiant and more vibrant than ever. There seemed to be no signs of depression or marital trouble on her either.

Here are some of her last clicked photos, most of which she uploaded herself on her Instagram handle:

What hurts more deeply is that the late Mom star who was an exemplary mother to her very own two girls, was promoting her eldest daughter Jahnvi’s debut movie with a passion, in her last days; Jahnvi is being launched into Bollywood by the dynamic film-maker Karan Johar, and Sridevi won’t be around to witness the release of her kid’s debut film.

Gone away too soon, words can not express our inexplicable agony over the loss. Our heart pours out to her loved ones and those in mourning.

May the ‘Queen of Indian cinema’ and ‘Chandni of hearts’ rest in eternal peace.