Gone Too Early: Leaders, Actors Mourn Sridevi, The First Female Superstar Of Indian Film Industry

Tributes were pouring in for veteran actor Sridevi after she passed away on Saturday of a heart attack in Dubai, leaving her fans and the film industry shocked.

The 54-year-old actor, known as Bollywood’s First Female Superstar, along with her husband and director Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi was in Dubai to attend nephew and actor Mohit Marwah's wedding. While some of her family members returned after the wedding, Sridevi and her family stayed back.

While her fans assembled outside her Mumbai house, condolences poured in for the actor who made her film debut at a tender age of four in a 1969 Tamil devotional film Thunaivan, in which she played the role of Lord Muruga. Known for her roles in Hindi movies like Mr India, Himmatwala, Chandni, and Tamil films such as Moondram Pirai Sigappu Rojakkal, Varumayin Niram Sivappu, 16 Vayadinile and Meendum Kokila, Sridevi won the admiration of millions in a career spanning almost 25 years. After a long hiatus of 15 years the actor returned to films with the movie English Vinglish, followed by her last film Mom last year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his condolences, saying:

President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted: "Shocked to hear of passing of movie star Sridevi. She has left millions of fans heartbroken. Her performances in films such as Mr India, Moondram Pirai, Lamhe and English Vinglish remain an inspiration for other actors. My condolences to her family and close associates."

Actors and co-stars tweeted expressing their shock and sorrow at her sudden demise. Rajinikanth tweeted, “ I’m shocked and very disturbed. I’ve lost a dear friend and the industry has lost a true legend...”

Kamala Hassan said, “Have witnessed Sridevi’s life from an adolescent teenager to the magnificeint lady she became. Her stardom was well deserved. Many happy moments with her flash through my mind including the last time I met her. Sadma’s lullaby haunts me now. We’ll miss her.”

Madhuri Dixit tweeted saying, “ Just woke up to the terrible news of Sridevi passing. My heart goes out to her family. The world has lost a very talented person who left behind a huge legacy in film...”

Sridevi has also acted in Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu films as well. She was also a recipient of Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour, in 2013. She made her Bollywood debut as a child artist in the hit Julie (1975) and played her first adult role at age 13 in the Tamil film Moondru Mudichu (1976), where the lead roles were played by actors Kamala Hassan and Rajinikanth.

She was also voted 'India's Greatest Actress in 100 Years' in a CNN-IBN national poll conducted in 2013 on the occasion of the centenary of Indian cinema. She had been cast in Dharma Productions' Shiddat, which is being directed Abhishek Varman.

Her eldest daughter Janhvi is preparing to make her Bollywood debut this year with Karan Johar's directorial Dhadak.