Bollywood legend Sridevi Kapoor mourned by fans in Mumbai

Bollywood legend Sridevi Kapoor mourned by fans in Mumbai

The husband and daughters of Bollywood legend Sridevi Kapoor were seen standing over her body as her funeral went underway in Mumbai, with thousands of heartbroken fans lining the streets following her shock death in a Dubai hotel last week. 

The 54-year-old actress drowned in the bath in her hotelroom in Dubai, and after a short investigation local police ruled out foul play, allowing her remains to be returned to India.

Boney Kapoor and the couple's daughters Jhanvi and Khushi were later seen riding along the casket on a truck while crying fans surrounded the funeral cortege. 

Bollywood star Sonam Kapoor, the actress’s niece, made a heartfelt plea tonight for the love to continue for Sridevi’s daughters.

She said: 'The past few days have been trying times for us as a family. Today has been one of the hardest. We laid to rest a beautiful soul who is 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.

'She had the same connect with her family as well. The one thing that helped us all get through the past few days was the amazing amount of support and love from everyone.

'The outpouring of love is the memory that we would like the daughters Khusi 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 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 lovely twinkle in her eye and help them build a life and be what she had dreamt for them.'

By early Wednesday morning, fans had begun lining up along a security fence outside the private members club near Sridevi's home where the body has been laid out before the funeral tonight.

Some carried roses while others held photos of the late screen icon as they queued patiently to pay their final respects at a condolence service in the western Indian city.

'It's a shock to believe that she is no more. We want to pay her one last visit today and thank her for all her wonderful performances,' Nandini Rao, a 32-year-old teacher said.

One mourner, a man who gave his name only as Prashant, arrived at about 7am, hours before anyone was to be allowed in.

'No matter how long I have to wait, I will wait,' he said, clutching a small bouquet of flowers.

'I'll wait until I'm able to pay my respects. I saw all her movies,' he said, grief clearly visible on his face.

A string of Mercedes and Audis ferried family members, Bollywood stars and VIPs in through another gate, at the Celebration Sports Club in the Andheri West area of Mumbai - the home of the Bollywood film industry.

Today Bollywood celebrities, dressed in white which is a Hindu tradition for mourning, were turning out at the Celebration Sports Club in Lokhandwala, Mumbai, for her funeral.

Her body was dressed in her favourite red and golden saree for her final journey and contained in a glass casket.

Police had to 'lathi charge' - use their batons - on the growing crowd, said to number more than 7,000, which included people who had travelled hundreds of miles to be there.

Several fans chanted prayers as Sridevi's body was brought the short distance from her home to the club at 9am (3.30am GMT).

'I'm an avid Sridevi fan. I loved her smiling personality. She had such a commanding presence in the Indian film industry. Her death was so sudden and I feel terrible,' 45-year-old Kuldeep Singh said Sridevi's body is due to leave the ground at 2pm to embark on its final journey. 

She will be cremated at a private Hindu ceremony later on Wednesday.

Sridevi was considered to be one of the most influential Bollywood actresses of all time and her sudden death at the weekend sparked an outpouring of grief in India.

Tributes poured in from fans and fellow actors as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Birmingham-born Bollywood actress and rapper Hard Kaur, who worked in a TV advert with Sridevi last month, told MailOnline: 'There will only ever be one of her kind. 

'There are actresses in Bollywood who tell directors that they can’t appear like this or that or wear this or that as they have to look “hot” all the time. 

'Sridevi didn’t mind playing any part and she once appeared in a movie as Charlie Chaplin. Her comic timing was brilliant. 

'She always lit up the screen and her dance moves were so special. Kid