"SRI DEVI, why did God choose a mysterious death for you"?

Inputs By Sowjanya Teja

 Sridevi was called Joker, Chandini, Hawa-hawai by her family memebers but her real name is Shree Amma Yanger Ayappan. She was born in Meenampatti, Sivakasi, Tamilnadu. Sridevi was the female superstar of Indian cinema from tha age four and acted in Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada language films. She frequently played strong-willed women and was renowned for her vocal and assertive on-screen attitude, despite her reserved and timid off-screen demeanor. Sridevi was highly private about her personal life and rarely did interviews. Boney Kapoor revealed that Sridevi did not speak to him for six months after he proposed, as he was married with two children at the time. He finally persuaded her and  married gave up her acting job to raise children.

               Sridevi, one of India's most iconic actresses, passed away on February 24, 2018, at the age of 54, while attending a family wedding in Dubai. Her death was officially ruled as an "accidental drowning" in a hotel bathtub, but it has since been shrouded in speculation, conspiracy theories, and lingering questions, making it one of the most debated celebrity deaths in India.

               Before her death, Sridevi was known to be extremely health-conscious and disciplined about her fitness and appearance. She maintained a healthy lifestyle, starting her day with lukewarm water, eating nutritious meals rich in vegetables and fruits, and practicing yoga regularly. She avoided strict named diets but focused on balanced eating habits, with occasional indulgences like dark chocolate. This dedication to fitness was evident in her glowing appearance and physical condition, even at the age of 54.

               Additionally, a childhood friend, Pinky Reddy, mentioned that Sridevi was unwell just before traveling to Dubai for her nephew Mohit Marwah’s wedding. She had a fever, was on antibiotics, and felt tired but insisted on attending the event. Despite this, there’s no indication that this illness directly contributed to her death.

               According to the Dubai Police and forensic reports, Sridevi drowned in the bathtub of her room at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel after losing consciousness. The autopsy revealed traces of alcohol in her bloodstream and water in her lungs, suggesting she may have been intoxicated at the time. Her husband, Boney Kapoor, was reportedly the last person with her. He stated that he found her unresponsive in the tub after returning to the room to surprise her with a dinner date. The case was closed by Dubai authorities, who found no evidence of foul play after investigating, including questioning Boney Kapoor and conducting lie detector tests.

1. Sudden Shift in Cause: Initial reports cited cardiac arrest as the cause of death, which was later contradicted by the autopsy’s drowning verdict. This inconsistency confused fans and sparked doubts.

2. Alcohol Presence: Sridevi was known to rarely drink, yet the autopsy found alcohol in her system. Some questioned how much she consumed and whether it was enough to cause unconsciousness.

3. Bathtub Drowning: Critics, including Kerala DGP Rishiraj Singh, argued it’s unlikely for a healthy adult to drown in a shallow bathtub unless incapacitated or held down, citing a forensic expert’s opinion that it "might have been murder."

4. Timeline Gaps: There’s uncertainty about what happened in the hours between Boney finding her and the police being called, with some reports suggesting a delay of nearly four hours.

In 2023, Boney Kapoor broke his silence, emphasizing that her death was accidental, not natural. He revealed Sridevi’s history of crash diets and low blood pressure, which caused blackouts. He recounted instances where she fainted in bathrooms during film shoots, corroborated by actors like Nagarjuna. Boney underwent extensive interrogation in Dubai and received a "clean chit," reinforcing the official narrative.

The lack of transparency—limited public access to forensic details, combined with Sridevi’s fame and the suddenness of her demise—keeps the mystery alive. Fans and theorists struggle to reconcile her vibrant persona with such an abrupt end, especially given her lack of known serious health issues beyond dieting.

After her untimely death in 2018, actors across generations paid tribute to her. Salman Khan, who never worked with her but met her socially, called her "an institution." Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, from the newer generation, expressed how Sridevi inspired their careers.

In essence, Sridevi was a beloved figure in the industry—admired for her talent, respected for her work ethic, and cherished for her humility despite her superstar status. Her relationships with other actors were a mix of professional excellence and personal warmth, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian cinema.

In summary, while Sridevi was generally fit and health-conscious, her extreme low-salt dieting likely compromised her health in the time before her death, contributing to low blood pressure and blackouts. Combined with her fatigue from recent illness and the presence of alcohol, these factors may have played a role in the tragic accident that ended her life.