In a shocking new twist to her sudden end, it has been revealed that Indian actress Sridevi died due to 'accidental drowning' in her hotel here before her surprise dinner date with husband and film producer Boney Kapoor. The revelation has led to delay in repatriation of her body back home in India.
A day after media reported that she had died following cardiac arrest on Saturday night, a Dubai Police forensic report stated that the 54-year-old had passed away due to accidental drowning in the bathtub in her hotel room here.
Another twist came with the mention in the forensic report of traces of alcohol in her blood -- with some media reports claiming that it was found to have been at "elevated levels".
Forensic report: Accidental drowning is cause of #Sridevi's death. https://t.co/vYS1il1E7T pic.twitter.com/BY2XjEG1nr
— Gulf News (@gulf_news) February 26, 2018
Sharing the image of the forensic report, Gulf News stated that Sridevi, who had traces of alcohol in her blood, lost balance and fell into the bathtub and drowned.
According to khaleejtimes.com, her body will soon be moved to the Al Muhaisana embalming unit and will be repatriated to Mumbai -- where India's top stars and her legions of fans are waiting to have a glimpse of the mortal remains of their "Chandni" star.
According to a post on the official Dubai Media Office Twitter handle, Dubai Police has transferred the case to Dubai Public Prosecution, which will carry out regular legal procedures that are followed in such cases.
"The investigation is still going on to determine the circumstances surrounding the accident as the forensic report only says that she drowned," an official told Gulf News.
Live: How did Sridevi die?Live: How did Sridevi die? Dubai Police officials confirm details to Gulf News. gulfnews.com/1.2178719?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post
Posted by Gulf News on Monday, 26 February 2018
The police are trying to piece together the sequence of events and ascertain what exactly happened.
A chief prosecutor told Gulf News: "In such accidental death incidents, the results of the post-mortem and forensic examination reports are referred to the Public Prosecution as part of ordinary law enforcement procedures. The papers are revised by the prosecutors of the jurisdiction where the incident happened. An official order to hand over the body of the deceased to the family or relatives is issued shortly after that."
Experts feel this could further delay the return of the body and that could reschedule her last rites.
#Sridevi's last dance video with Anil Kapoor from Mohit Marwah's wedding in Dubai..
— Shweta (@ShwetaS13301723) February 26, 2018
We grew up watching her..
Cnt express š
We will miss you#RIPSridevi pic.twitter.com/vac1CIiwqb
Earlier reports said that the actress was getting ready for a dinner date with her husband.
Boney flew to Dubai from Mumbai and went to her room at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel at around 5.30 p.m. on Saturday to "surprise" her with the dinner, a source close to the family told the Khaleej Times.
He woke her up and the couple chatted for about 15 minutes before he invited her for dinner.
The "Mom" star then went to the washroom. After 15 minutes had passed and Sridevi did not come out, Boney knocked on the door to check on her. When he got no response, he forced open the door to find the legendary actor lying motionless in the bathtub full of water, the source said.
"He tried to revive her and when he could not, he called a friend of his. After that, he informed the police at 9 p.m.," he added.
The police and paramedics rushed to the site, but she was pronounced dead.
Sridevi dancing & hugging her husband at Dubai wedding.Who could have thought this tragedy was to follow.All of us,hug our loved ones close pic.twitter.com/LmF7TahSRM
— sonia singh (@soniandtv) February 25, 2018
Her body was taken to the General Department of Forensic Medicine for an autopsy.
Sridevi, Boney, and their younger daughter Khushi Kapoor were in Ras Al Khaimah, another part of UAE, last week to celebrate the wedding of her actor-nephew Mohit Marwah.
Boney had returned to Mumbai after the wedding, but decided to return to Dubai to "surprise" his wife.
BOLLYWOOD OFFERS CONDOLENCES TO SRIDEVI'S FAMILY
A day after Sridevi died in Dubai almost the entire Indian film fraternity and politicians were seen at Anil Kapoor's residence here in Mumbai to offer their respects and condolences to the grieving family.
People are still trying to come to terms with the death of the legendary actor, the Chandni of Bollywood - Sridevi. The actress died at the age of 54 due to "accidental drowning" in her hotel in Dubai. She was there with husband Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi Kapoor to attend nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding last week.
Celebrities like Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Karishma Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Genelia Deshmukh, Shanaya Kapoor, Nagma, Ameesha Patel, Anshula Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Jaya Prada and many more visited the residence of Anil Kapoor to pay their respects.
Sridevi's co-star in many films Kamal Haasan and the Academy Award winner Resul Pookutty also showed up to pay their last tribute to Sridevi.
#Sridevi's last dance video with Anil Kapoor from Mohit Marwah's wedding in Dubai..
— Shweta (@ShwetaS13301723) February 26, 2018
We grew up watching her..
Cnt express š
We will miss you#RIPSridevi pic.twitter.com/vac1CIiwqb
Mohit Marwah and Antara Motiwala cut short their honeymoon and have reached Anil Kapoor's residence to be with the family.
Mukesh Ambani's son Anant Ambani also showed up to pay tribute to the deceased actress. Filmmaker Karan Johar and fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who has been looking after Jhanvi Kapoor and supporting the family ever since the tragedy struck, were seen teary-eyed as they entered the Kapoor house.
Choreographer Saroj Khan, who has worked with Sridevi on many iconic numbers, also came to pay tribute.
The news of her death was confirmed by brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor late on Saturday (February 24) and ever since the entire nation and the film fraternity has not stopped mourning.
The Kapoor family is waiting for the body to be flown back to India, so the final rites could be performed as per Hindu rituals.
No update from the Dubai Police on Sridevi's mortal remains, says Vipul, India Consul General in Dubai, to TIMES NOW #RIPSridevi pic.twitter.com/SIDB4Mmp53
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) February 26, 2018
SHE WENT TOO SOON: CELEBS ON SRIDEVI'S DEMISE
Bollywood celebrities like Shahid Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez and Shekhar Kapoor have shared their sadness on the untimely demise of veteran actress Sridevi.
Sridevi, 54, died in Dubai on Sunday following cardiac arrest. The Padma Shri recipient was there to attend the marriage function of actress Sonam Kapoor's cousin Mohit Marwah, along with husband Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi.
Here's what celebrities had to say:
Shahid Kapoor: Want to sincerely thank you all for your wishes. But today is the day to remember Srideviji. To remember her for her brilliance and the magic she brought into our lives. All our love and wishes must be for her today. May she rest in peace.
Jacqueline Fernandez: Today has been a daze for me. So, many things to digest. She went too soon. I was always an admiring fan to her, she was always so gracious and kind to me. Her passing has taught me something. Life is so short and so fragile, every moment counts, this is not a rehearsal.. There will never be anyone like her.. RIP Sridevi.
Raveena Tandon: Difficult to say goodbye to someone who was so larger than life itself.. you will always be missed my friend Sridevi.
Aanand L Rai: Heroes get remembered but legends never die. Sridevi forever.
Divya Khosla Kumar: Mein toh unse tabse pyaar Karti hoon Jabse mein five saal ki thi (I love her since I was five-years-old) - 'Lamhe' My favorite Sridevi dialogue and the one which so well resonates my hearts feelings for her.
Shekhar Kapur: Comic timing in a blink of an eyelid. Even As I grieve for Sridevi I cou'dn't help admiring her amazing comic timing. 'on't know a single actor in the world that could have pulled this scene off like she did -- Sridevi Charlie Chaplin sequence.
Aditi Rao Hydari: Shaken and shocked beyond words... RIP Srideviji. She will truly shine forever... prayers and condolences to her family and fans.
Varun Dhawan: An icon, legend and superstar actor who was a big inspiration for me. Really shocked with this news. She was always so nice and encouraging. RIP Srideviji. Prayers.
