Calcutta: Tollywood legend Supriya Chowdhury, who died on Friday morning aged 85, had many famous lines, but none more representative of her life than "I want to live".

Chowdhury, more famous as Supriya Devi, died of cardiac arrest in her Ballygunge Circular Road home.

The actress's family said she suddenly took ill around 6.20am and a doctor was called. She was dead by the time the doctor checked her pulse.

As news of the veteran's death spread, Tollywood past and present trooped into her house.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who was part of the funeral procession from Rabindra Sadan to the Keoratala crematorium, tweeted: "Very saddened at the passing of legendary actress of Bengal, Supriya Chowdhury (Devi). We will fondly remember her through her films. Condolences to her family and fans," Mamata tweeted.

One of Bengali cinema's fiercest debates has been about who's the bigger star: Supriya Devi or Suchitra Sen.

Suchitra's daughter Moon Moon and granddaughter Raima were among the mourners assembled at Rabindra Sadan. Actors Prosenjit Chatterjee and Dev were there too.

At the Keoratala crematorium, Supriya Devi was given a gun salute by 12 policemen who fired three blanks each. The actress was cremated at 7.50pm.