Shefali Jariwala, who best known for her iconic appearance in the music video Kaanta Laga, passed away on June 27 at the age of 42. As fans and industry colleagues mourn her sudden demise, many are also remembering the emotional strength she displayed over the years. In a 2021 interview with Bollywood Bubble, Shefali had opened up about the toll her first marriage took on her and how she once believed she’d never fall in love again after her divorce from Harmeet Singh of Meet Bros.“When that happens to you, you think it’s the end of the world… I was so young when I got married and I got divorced. It was very difficult for me,” she said. She credited her support system — parents and close friends — for helping her navigate that dark phase.‘You stop believing in love… but it passes’Opening up further, Shefali said, “There were times when you stop believing in love… you think, ‘I don’t think I’ll ever fall in love again’ or ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get into a relationship again, shaadi toh bohot door ki baat hai (marriage is out of the question)’. But it passes.”Shefali and Harmeet were married in 2004 and divorced in 2009. She went on to find love again and married actor Parag Tyagi in 2014.‘I was judged for living my life again’While Shefali eventually found happiness, she wasn’t spared from judgment. She pointed out the double standards women face after divorce and remarriage. “Why are women subjected to such judgments and men are not? Why is it okay for men to get married ten times and women to not get married twice?” she questioned.Mocking the way people perceived her bold on-screen image, she added, “Isi ne kuch kiya hoga, isi mein kuch hoga, yeh toh Kaanta Laga ladki hai, yeh bohot bold hai (They say, ‘She must be the one at fault, she is the Kaanta Laga girl, she is so bold’). Come on! That is a character we play on screen.”Shefali had also participated in popular reality shows like Nach Baliye 5 and Bigg Boss 13, and was known for her forthrightness both on and off screen.
A sudden death and an ongoing investigationOn June 27, Shefali Jariwala died suddenly after suffering a suspected cardiac arrest. She was declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Her passing sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with celebrities and fans flooding social media to mourn her loss.Preliminary investigations suggest that her death may have been medically triggered rather than involving any foul play. According to sources, Shefali had been following a consistent anti-aging treatment routine. On the day of her death, she was fasting for a religious ritual but reportedly still took her regular anti-aging injection. Later that evening, between 10 and 11 p.m., her health deteriorated rapidly, she began trembling and eventually lost consciousness.She was rushed to the hospital by her husband Parag Tyagi and other family members, where doctors pronounced her brought dead. Police have since seized several medications from her home, including anti-aging vials, vitamin supplements, and gastric pills.No foul play suspected so farAs of now, authorities have found no signs of foul play or domestic discord. Statements have been recorded from eight individuals, including family members, staff, and medical professionals. The police are awaiting postmortem and lab reports on the seized medications to confirm the exact cause of death.
