There could be a further delay in the return of Sridevi’s mortal remains with the Dubai police informing the Indian Embassy that another “clearance” was awaited before it could release the body of the actor, who according to the government there, died of accidental drowning in her hotel bath tub after losing consciousness.
Maintaining that the Embassy and Consulate are working closely with the authorities in Dubai to expedite the return of Sridevi’s body, Indian envoy to the UAE Navdeep Suri told PTI that they have been told that the Dubai police can release it only after receiving another “clearance”.
However, Mr. Suri did not say what type of “clearance” was required. “It is their internal process. We do not know.”
Asked when Sridevi’s body can be flown out, he said, it was difficult to give any timeline as the UAE authorities were doing their process.
The Dubai government’s media office said on Twitter, “Following the completion of post mortem analysis, Dubai police headquarters today stated that the death of the Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment’s bath tub following loss of consciousness,”
It also said in a tweet that the police have transferred the case to the “Dubai Public Prosecution” which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases.
Veteran actor Sridevi passed away on Sunday. She was just 55.
Sridevi made her debut in Thunaivan (1969) where she played the role of Lord Muruga. She was just six when the film released. She would then go on to act in several films as a child actor, even winning a Kerala State award for Best Child Actor for the Malayalam movie, Poompatta (1971).
Her first leading role as an adult would come in Moondru Mudichu (1976), where she would be caught in a love triangle between Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. She would go on to star in several films with both the heroes - Gayathri, 16 Vayathinile, Johnny, Guru, Sigappu Rojakkal and so on.
Sridevi and Kamal Haasan in 16 Vayathinile
Here, Sridevi stars in Thulavarsham, a Malayalam film, with Sudhir
K. Balachander’s Varumaiyin Niram Sivappu (1980) with Kamal Haasan and Prathap Pothen and M.S. Viswanathan in the music seat would go on to become one of her most critically acclaimed films.
Balu Mahendra’s Moondram Pirai (1982), which was remade in Hindi the very next year, took her stardom to new heights. In Moonram Pirai, she played the role of a young woman who, after being struck with amnesia, mentally regresses to the age of a young girl.
Though she made her Bollywood debut in Solva Saavan, it was only after Sadma’s release that she began doing more Hindi films. Here, Sridevi and Rajinikanth in an image from Chaal Baaz (1989)
Chandni (1989), in which she plays the role of a woman wooed by two men, was regarded as one of Yash Chopra’s best films. The movie also won the National Award for the Best Popular Film that year.
In Lamhe (1991), Sridevi plays a double role - that of a young woman who Anil Kapoor’s character falls in love with and that of her daughter who later falls in love with Anil Kapoor’s character. The movie garnered Sridevi the Filmfare award for Best Actress that year.
Judaai (1997) was one of her last films before she went on a 15 year hiatus. This film was remake of the Telugu film Shubhalagnam.
Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish (2012) would be her first full-fledged role since her wedding to Boney Kapoor and the birth of her children Jhanvi and Khushi.
She played the role of Queen Yuvarani in actor Vijay's Puli, her last film in Tamil.
Sridevi was awarded the Padma Shri in 2013, the country's fourth highest civilian honour.
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It is not clear what caused Sridevi, 54, to lose consciousness, and whether the initial report of her death due to cardiac arrest still holds.
Her death, which was first reported at around 3 a.m. on Sunday in India, sent shock waves across the country with those who knew her at a loss to explain how she could have suffered cardiac arrest at such a young age.
The latest report of accidental drowning only deepens the mystery surrounding her death.
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