Co-stars, loved ones and fans mourned the passing away of a spirited man as veteran Hindi film actor Amrish Puri was cremated at the Shivaji Park crematorium here Thursday.

A sea of white engulfed the 72-year-old Puri's Juhu residence a day after the popular actor died of brain haemorrhage, with many staying on to accompany his mortal remains on the final journey.

Puri's son Rajiv performed the last rites.

As the body was brought from the Hinduja Hospital in the morning, actors, politicians and fans arrived to pay their last respects.

"He was a sterling human being, no one can replace him," said actor Raza Murad, who had worked with him in many films.

Among those who arrived to bid goodbye were Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Shammi Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Hema Malini, Feroz Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Tabu, Kader Khan and A.K. Hangal.

Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah was one of the politicians who came to pay tributes.

Farida Jalal, who paired up with Puri in the 1990s hit "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge", sobbed quietly and could barely speak.

Puri's commanding and endearing presence would forever be missed, remarked almost everybody who had worked with him.

One of Bollywood's most brilliant actors whose distinctive baritone gave life to a variety of roles from that of a villain to a benevolent father, Puri never quite lived down his most famous role, the larger than life "Mogambo" who wanted to rule the world in fantasy flick "Mr. India".

He is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

Hospital sources said Puri fell at his home last week, leading to a blood clot in the brain for which he underwent surgery. He was already under treatment for malaria when he slipped into a coma from which he never recovered.

Born on June 22, 1932, Puri made his Bollywood debut in 1971 with "Reshma Aur Shera" after several years as a theatre and advertising personality.

In a successful career that also featured Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom", Puri's last film was "Hulchul" with Akshay Khanna, Jackie Shroff and Kareena Kapoor.

Amrish's portrayal in diverse roles whether in art house cinema like "Nishant" and "Bhumika" or in mainstream commercial films like "Chachi 420" or "Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaayenge" endeared him to a wide range of cinema viewers.