Wrapped in tricolour, Indian cinema icon Sridevi today began her final journey with thousands of mourners jostling each other to catch a glimpse of her cortege as it slowly made its way through the city to the Vile Parle crematorium.


The body of the 54-year-old, who died in Dubai on Saturday, was taken in a hearse that was covered with white flowers.


Sridevi, Indian cinema's first woman superstar, was given a gun salute at the Celebration Sports Club, minutes away from her home in Green Acres Lokhandwala where her body was kept before leaving for its last journey.


Her filmmaker husband Boney Kapoor, stepson Arjun Kapoor and other family members were with the body as it left the building. As crowds mobbed the vehicle -- with some climbing on trees and clambering on gates to get a better look -- Arjun Kapoor requested them with folded hands to let the funeral procession pass through.


Thousands of people walked along with the hearse as it left the venue for the crematorium, about seven kilometres away.


There was a sea of people as far as the eye could see. A prayer was performed at the hall before taking the actor's body for the last rites.


The white hearse had a giant photograph of the actor edged with white flowers. It was the theme of the day with white lilies, mogra and red roses also covering the hall where her body was kept.


With flowers in their hands and a prayer for their screen idol on their lips, thousands of fans filed past the body at the hall to pay their last respects. Sridevi's body was brought to the venue at 9 am by her family members.


Inside the hall, her family, including brothers-in-law Anil Kapoor, and Sanjay Kapoor as well as nephew Harshvardhan Kapoor and nieces Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor, stood in a corner, their eyes wet with tears.


Sridevi's daughters Jahnvi and Khushi were standing a little behind them. The actor's mortal remains were draped in a red kanjivaram sari with a bindi on her forehead. -- PTI


Image: Photographers line the road outside Celebration Sports Club this morning. Pic: Pradeep Bandekar