MUMBAI, June 29 — Actor and model Shefali Jariwala, best known for her breakout performance in the early 2000s hit music video Kaanta Laga, passed away late Friday night following a suspected cardiac arrest. She was 41. Her last rites were performed in Mumbai on Saturday evening in the presence of close friends, family members, and several figures from the entertainment industry.
According to sources, Jariwala collapsed at her Mumbai residence. Her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, rushed her to a nearby hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Visuals outside the hospital showed a visibly distraught Parag in tears, though the family has not issued an official statement yet.
A wave of grief swept through the film and television fraternity. Shefali’s Bigg Boss 13 co-contestants Shehnaaz Gill, Paras Chhabra, Rashami Desai, Mahira Sharma, and Arti Singh were seen at the cremation ground, offering their condolences. Singer Mika Singh and playback artist Sunidhi Chauhan also paid their respects at the funeral.
Shefali Jariwala first shot to fame in 2002 with Kaanta Laga, a remix that became a pop culture phenomenon. She followed it up with a role in the Salman Khan-Akshay Kumar starrer Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and went on to build a television presence with her appearance in Nach Baliye alongside her husband Parag Tyagi.
Her participation in Bigg Boss 13 revived public interest in her career. Her entry to the show made headlines not only for her competitive spirit but also due to her past relationship with late actor Sidharth Shukla, who was also a contestant in the same season. The two had reportedly dated more than a decade prior to their reunion on the show.
As tributes poured in on social media from fans and industry colleagues, the suddenness of Jariwala’s death has shocked many. She was remembered for her grace, determination, and ability to reinvent herself across different phases of her career.
