Mumbai: The `laughing gallery' of the film industry -- including veteran comedians like Paintal, Junior Mehmood, Johnny Lever -- today (July 28, 2004) gathered to pay their last tributes to the Czar of comedy and to the `Man of Many Moods' -- Mehmood.

The laugh lines on the otherwise-mirthful lot were today subdued as the body of the country's best known comedian, Mehmood Ali, who passed away on July 23, at Pennyslyvania in the United States, arrived in Mumbai this morning.

Mehmood's body, who stole the limelight in every film with his own streak of comedy and his innate ability to transform humour into a fine art, was taken to Mehboob Studio in suburban-Bandra, for fans to pay their last respect.

The actor's musician son Lucky Ali, sister Minoo Mumtaz, his wife Nancy, and his brothers, Anwar and Usman Ali were among those who accepted the condolences of those who dropped in to have a glimpse of the star.

The body of the actor, placed in a wooden casket and decorated with white pristine roses and a garland of white flowers, was kept open for over three hours in Mumbai to enable his admirers to bid adieu to the man who made making people laugh both his passion and profession.

The industry's well-known comedians, including his old associates like Shoba Khote, Jayashree T, Raza Murad, Dharmendra, Jagdeep, Viju Khote, paid floral tributes to the uncrowned monarch of the laughter club. Actress and Rajya Sabha member Jaya Bachchan, film-maker Yash Chopra, actor Govinda, screen villain Ranjith and choreographer, Saroj Khan also arrived to bid adieu to Mehmood.

According to Johnny Lever, "the death of Mehmood meant the closing of an entire chapter in the world of films. He is irreplaceable. He made people laugh till the end".

Mimicking Mehmoods' famous line "Khayalo mein, he said he would continue to remain fresh in the memory of his fans. "A star like him never dies. He continues to inspire thousands."

"I remember once, he had undergone a bypass surgery and lay in bed with all his chest in stitches. Yet he did not fail in making some wise-cracks when visitors dropped in," Johnny lever said.

According to Paintal, "Mehmood was an actor par excellence. Everyone tried to emulate him. Just like Laurel and Hardy were actors in their own right, Mehmood held enjoyed the same status in India."

Raza Murad said, "Mehmood was a box-office draw. Tickets were sold on his name. He commanded his own crowds. People would come to watch films only to see him, irrespective of the remaining star cast."

Rajesh Roshan, who was one of the music directors to receive a break in films due to Mehmood said, "He was like a jeweller continuously trying to assess the talent of an individual. It was not only me but many others in whom he spotted some talent and encouraged it."

Dharmendra, while describing him as one of the finest actors, he said both he (Dharmendra) and Mehmood enjoyed a special relationship and a subtle understanding during film shootings.

Meanwhile, Mehmood would be buried in Bangalore tomorrow, family sources said.