Sridevi’s death acase of “Accidental drowning”

MUMBAI-DUBAI/ The India Observer

HIGHLIGHTS

• Autopsy says veteran actor drowned in her bathtub: Local media
• Sridevi had gone to Dubai along to attend a family wedding
• Sridevi’s funeral is delayed yet again as body yet to arrive n Mumbai
• Boney Kapoor, Hotel staff questioned

Actor Shri Devi accidentally drowned in her hotel bathtub, a forensic report has said, Dubai newspapers reported on Monday evening. Sridevi, 54, died suddenly on Saturday night, leaving Bollywood in deep shock and millions of fans heartbroken. She collasped in her hotel room in Dubai, where she had gone with husband Boney Kapoor and daughter Khushi for a family wedding.

An autopsy report that refers to the actor as “Sreedevi Boney Kapoor Ayyappan” says the cause of death is “accidental drowning”. The report also indicates that alcohol was discovered in her blood stream during the autopsy. It is being surmised that under the influence of alcohol, the actress lost balance and slipped into the bathtub and drowned. The Khaleej Times quoted family sources to report that Boney Kapoor, waiting to take Sridevi out to dinner, found her motionless in the bathtub of her room at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

The Gulf News said the actor fell into the bathtub of her room at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers, lost consciousness and drowned.

This morning, the Khaleej Times had quoted family sources to report that Boney Kapoor, waiting to take Sridevi out to dinner, found her motionless in the bathtub. Boney Kapoor, a filmmaker, had returned to Mumbai with their daughter but had flown back to Dubai reportedly to surprise his wife.

Another account had said Sridevi was found unconscious in the washroom by the hotel staff. Sridevi’s body will be brought back to Mumbai in a chartered jet sent by industrialist Mukesh Ambani, but it is not clear when.

Meanwhile a pall of gloom has descended not just over Bollywood but also across the border, in Pakistan, as the film industry on both sides of the border comes to terms with the sudden and untimely death of the 54-year-old iconic actress.

“I have lost my mom in Mumbai,” said Pakistani actress Sajal Ali in her condolence tweet. Actor Adnan Siddiqui too has expressed shock and disbelief over Sridevi’s sudden demise. Both Pakistani actors were her co-stars in her last 2017 release Mom which has won global critical acclaim.

Actor Amitabh Bachchan, her co-star in several films, wrote a tweet around midnight expressing a premonition that something was wrong and he fell ill at ease. South Indian superstar Rajnikanth has already arrived in Mumbai to attend her funeral and pay his last respects to the actor. Her co-star in her classic hit film Sadma, Kamal Haasan has in a tearful tribute to the late actress extolled her dedication and perseverance and said his heart went out to Boney Kapoor and their girls, ending his message with a choked voice saying, ”Hang in there Boney.”

Many Holi parties –an annual affair in several filmi households have been cancelled in view of the actress’ death. In a Facebook post actress Shabana Azmi stated “Holi party at Janki Kutir stands cancelled in view of the death of Sridevi.”Earlier, her husband, Javed Akhtar too expressed his shock at the actress’ demise and said he was at a loss of words to express his feelings.