Sridevi, one of India's most celebrated actresses, has died according to multiple reports published by Indian media outlets. The 54-year-old Bollywood icon was attending a family wedding in the United Arab Emirates when she suffered a fatal heart attack, the reports said. Family members confirmed to the Indian Express website that the actress had passed away on Saturday morning. "It is true that Sridevi passed away.
I just landed here (India), I was in Dubai and now I am flying back to Dubai," her brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor told the news outlet. Born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sridevi started acting aged four with a role in the Tamil language film, Thunaivan. She went on to become a fixture of the Indian film industry, appearing in more than a 100 movies, spanning six decades, and picking up scores of awards for her performances. Her starring role in the 1987 adventure film, Mr India, earned her superstar status in South Asia. The film was the highest grossing Indian film that year and is widely regarded as a cult classic.
Her death caused shockwaves on social media, with Bollywood fans in India and abroad expressing their disbelief. "I have no words. Condolences to everyone who loved #Sridevi .
A dark day," wrote Bollywood actress, Priyanka Chopra. "A legendary actress who many of us grew up watching," wrote Noreen Khan, a British Asian radio presenter. "Totally shocked by this really sad news."