Sridevi's mortal remains, draped in tricolor, cremated with full state honours

NEW DELHI: The mortal remains of Bollywood actor Sridevi, draped in the Tricolour, were cremated with full state honours at the Vile Parle crematorium in Mumbai. Sridevi's filmmaker husband Boney Kapoor performed the last rites at the ceremony. The couple's daughters, Jahnvi and Khushi, were by his side. The actor's body was brought to the crematorium in a procession from the Celebrations Sports Club in Lokhandwala. A tall, air-conditioned truck, fully decorated with white flowers -- her favourite colour -- carried mortal remains of the actress. Among the prominent personalities who attended the funeral in Vile Parle were Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Randhir Kapoor and others who came to bid a final goodbye to Sridevi. Sridevi’s mortal remains were kept at the Celebration Sports Club, seven kilometers away from her residence Green Acres in Lokhandwala, where a prayer was performed at the hall before taking the actor's body for the last rites. A giant photograph of the much-loved actor edged with white flowers was put up outside the club. The body of Sridevi began its final journey with thousands of mourners jostling with each other to catch a glimpse of her cortege as it slowly made its way through the city to the Vile Parle crematorium from Celebration Sports Club. Thousands of people walked along with the hearse as it left the venue for the crematorium. There was a sea of people as far as the eye could see. Thousands of grieving fans had gathered in Mumbai since early morning to pay respects to Sridevi, 54, who had drowned accidentally in a Dubai hotel bathtub on late Saturday night. Sridevi's body was flown home late Tuesday night in a private plane owned by industrialist Anil Ambani. All that happened on Wednesday:

Statement from the Kapoor, Ayyappan and Marwah family after Sridevi's funeral: "The past few days have been trying times for us as a family. Today, particularly, has been one of the hardest. We laid to rest a beautiful soul who has gone too soon. She leaves behind a legacy that is unique. Her talent was undeniable, her beauty unmatched and her ability to connect with the audience was legendary. Sri had the same connect with her family as well. The one thing that helped us all get through these last few days, was the amazing amount of love and support from everyone — be it her many colleagues, to her innumerable fans, her caring friends and loving family, from across the country and the world. This outpouring of love is the memory that we would like Khushi and Janhvi to have of their mother… a woman who was loved unquestionably by everyone. Let us all who loved Sri, envelope her two little ones, her life, as she often called them, with as much or more love than we gave Sri so that they can live their lives ahead with a little less ache in their hearts. Let us help them remember their mother fondly, with that beloved twinkle in her eyes, and help them build a life and be what Sri had dreamt for them. To the members of the media, we ask that you respect the privacy of the family and allow us the space to grieve. Sri lived her life with dignity and we implore, that you give her the same respect."

• Sridevi cremated with full state honours as the entire nation bids an emotional farewell to the 'chandni' of Bollywood.

• Last rites ceremony of Sridevi begins at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium in Mumbai.

• Bollywood celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan arrive at the crematorium where Sridevi will be cremated with full state honours.

Anil Ambani, Anupam Kher and Arjun Rampal arrive at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium in Mumbai #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/A63lvpn0YV

— ANI (@ANI) February 28, 2018

• Mortal remains of Sridevi reach Vile Parle crematorium with thousands of her fans are standing outside to bid farewell to India's Chandni.
• Maharashtra government has accorded full state honours for the funeral of Sridevi which included draping her body in the national Tricolour, elaborate arrangements by the Mumbai Police, and a gun salute before the cremation.

#Sridevifuneral Visuals of Boney Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor and Mohit Marwah. LIVE: https://t.co/JQJlKZeiOk pic.twitter.com/yxsUZkJGe2 — ABP News (@abpnewstv) February 28, 2018

• Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor, her daughters Khushi and Jhanvi, Arjun Kapoor, Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor are among those travelling in the truck with the body.
• The actor's mortal remains are draped in a red kanjivaram sari with a bindi on her forehead.

People gather in large number to pay their respect during the funeral procession of actor Sridevi in Mumbai on Wednesday. PTI Photo The actress, 54, died on Saturday in Dubai, where she had gone to attend the wedding ceremony of his nephew. When the reports of her demise first surfaced, it was said the actress died of cardiac arrest. Later it was established that the actress died of "accidental drowning" in her hotel bathtub after losing consciousness. Dubai Public Prosecutors Office had on Tuesday closed the investigation in the case and said she died of accidental drowning following the loss of consciousness. Three days after the actor was found dead in her room at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel, the family was finally given custody of her body on Tuesday.