(Top L-R) Anil and Sonam Kapoor arrive in Mumbai; Rekha, Rani Mukerji, (Bottom L-R) Anupam Kher, Karan Johar, Maheep and Shanaya Kapoor arrive at Anil’s house (PIC: RAJU SHELAR, SATISH MALAVADE)
Shravan Shah (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 26, 2018)

The news started trickling in early on Sunday, an hour after midnight. Sridevi had been taken ill in Dubai where she’d gone to attend the wedding of husband Boney Kapoor’s nephew, Mohit Marwah. The actress was accompanied by Boney and younger daughter Khushi. Her older daughter, Janhvi, had stayed back in Mumbai to shoot for her debut, Dhadak. At around 2 am it was confirmed that Sridevi (54) had suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.

The local police quickly made arrangements to handle the swelling crowds who started gathering outside their matinee idol’s Lokhandwala home by mid-day. Amidst tight security, a few filmwallahs tried to venture inside, among them Shashank Khaitan who is directing Dhadak. He was stopped by the guards and let in after some phone calls.

Veteran actor Ali Khan also dropped by as did Anurag Basu who admitted he had met the actress just five times and regretted meeting her so late in his career. He mentioned that Sridevi had been a fine painter and spoke about her fondness for laddoos when they had met last during Saraswati pooja.

Anil Kapoor, with daughter Sonam, flew in from Patiala where they had been filming for Shelly Chopra Dhar’s directorial debut, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. Boney’s son Arjun also flew in from Chandigarh. He had just kicked off Vipul Shah’s Namaste England with Parineeti Chopra and rushed straight to his chachu’s Juhu bungalow, where they were joined by Karan Johar, Manish Malhotra and Anupam Kher. Later, Rekha, Aruna Irani, Rani Mukerji, Vaibhavi Merchant, Satish Kaushik, Neelima Azeem dropped by.

All through the day there were reports that Sridevi’s remains was being flown down in a private jet but the funeral would only take place on Monday. Post 9 pm, an official statement was issued on behalf of the Kapoor’s, Ayyappan and Marwah family thanking the media for their support.

“Late Sridevi Kapoor’s body will arrive in India tomorrow (Monday). We will update you on all further information as and when it is available to us,” the release stated.