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On June 27, the music fell silent. Shefali Jariwala, the face that made an entire generation swing to the beats of ‘Kaanta Laga,’ passed away at the age of 42, following a suspected cardiac arrest. Declared dead upon arrival at the hospital, her sudden demise sent a wave of shock across the entertainment industry and beyond. But those who knew her, worked with her, and loved her, remember her not just as the ‘Kaanta Laga girl,’ but as someone who was full of life, dreams, and substance.‘We found our doll on a scooter ride’ – Filmmaker Vinay Sapru remembers discovering ShefaliFilmmaker Vinay Sapru, who co-directed the iconic remix video with Radhika Rao, recalled their first meeting like it happened yesterday. “We discovered her when she was just 19. It wasn’t a structured casting process—it was destiny,” he told ETimes.“We were driving on Linking Road when a scooter came up next to us. A mother was riding, and a young girl was hugging her from behind. Radhika and I looked at each other and said, ‘That’s our girl.’”When they stopped her at a signal and handed her their card, Shefali revealed she was an engineering student with no experience in front of the camera. “Still, she came to our office the very next day,” Vinay said, smiling. “She was all energy and heart. No training, but full of life. That innocence, those kisses she blew at the camera—she was exactly what we had imagined. We knew we had found our doll.”A story that stayed etched in Vinay’s heart was from Shefali’s birthday rehearsal. “She’d just received a pair of white jeans from her sister. We told her to take the day off and celebrate. But she insisted on working,” he recalled.“She said, ‘How I spend my birthday sets the tone for my year.’ At the end of rehearsals, her brand-new white jeans were covered in mud. Her eyes welled up when she saw them. But she smiled and said, ‘This is the best birthday I’ve had—rehearsing and cutting cake with all of you.’ That’s the kind of girl she was.”
Vinay reflected on the shoot schedule, which spanned just three tight days. “We’d pack up at 2 am and be back at 7 am. But Shefali never missed a beat. She knew the entire song revolved around her. She gave it everything she had.”What started with a spontaneous scooter sighting turned into one of Indian pop culture’s most iconic music videos. “Within three months, she became the nation’s crush,” he said. “Twenty years later, people still refer to her as the Kaanta Laga girl. She wanted that. She once told me, ‘I want to be remembered that way forever.’ And she will be.”‘She came with cakes and dreams just 20 days ago’
Their final meeting was filled with laughter and planning. “Just 20 days ago, she visited us with cakes and pastries from her favorite Japanese bakery,” Vinay recalled. “She said, ‘I’ve had an incredible 20 years… now let’s plan the next 20.’”They spoke for hours, discussing new songs, live events, and a fresh creative chapter. “Everything was falling into place,” he said. “And now she’s gone. Maybe it’s true—God takes His favourites early.”With a heavy heart, he added, “People have asked us to make Kaanta Laga 2 or 3. We never could. And now, we never will. We’re retiring the song—like a jersey number—because it belonged to her. It always did.”‘She was a happy soul who loved life’ – Shreyas Talpade shares his memories
Actor Shreyas Talpade, who worked with Shefali in the ALTBalaji comedy Baby Come Naa, remembered her as “inherently simple and deeply attached to her family.”“She became more active on social media during our shoot and soon mastered it,” he told ETimes. “She was chilled out about work and loved spending quality time with her loved ones. A happy person, full of life. What happened is just too shocking. I pray her family finds strength during these incredibly difficult times.”‘I used to call her Chupdi, my Chupdi’ – Hindustani bhau on their sibling-like bond
Vikas Fhatak, popularly known as Hindustani Bhau, became close to Shefali during Bigg Boss 13. “She was like a sister, like a daughter to me,” he told ANI, his voice trembling. “I used to call her Chupdi—my Chupdi. That bond was real.”Bhau recalled her strength and described her as “a daughter who had the heart and responsibility of a son.” He added, “She took care of her entire family. She had a heart attack, but her heart was never weak.”Their memories together are now painful reminders of her absence. “Her number is still saved in my mother’s phone. But it doesn’t ring anymore. That silence… it breaks you,” he said.On Rakshabandhan, she would surprise him with gifts. “I have so many memories. I cry just thinking of them,” he admitted. “Why did she have to go like this? All we can do now is pray for her peace.”‘She was a superstar from day one’ – Mika Singh bids farewell
Singer Mika Singh, who featured alongside Shefali in the hit track Honthon Pe Bas, expressed his sorrow outside the funeral. “She achieved stardom at an age when most people are still figuring out who they are,” he said.“Shefali wasn’t just a pretty face—she was a performer, a magnet. Whether it was fans or directors, everyone loved her. Wherever she went, she left a mark.”Speaking about her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, Mika said, “Her mother was inconsolable. Parag… he’s shattered. My heart breaks for him. She was his world.”He ended with a poignant reminder: “Stars like Shefali never die. They live on in our hearts. She was a superstar from day one—and she’ll always be remembered that way.”‘I will find you in every lifetime’ – Parag Tyagi’s moving farewell
After her prayer meet, Parag Tyagi finally broke his silence, sharing an emotional post:“I will find you every time you are born and I will love you in every lifetime. I love You eternally, Mer Gundi, meezri. “In his previous post, he wrote, “Shefali, meri pari—the ever-eternal Kaanta Laga—was so much more than what met the eye. She was fire wrapped in grace… fiercely driven, yet soft and selfless. She was sab ki maa—always putting others first, always offering comfort. A generous daughter, a devoted wife, and a wonderful mom to Simba.”She lived with love, left with grace
Shefali Jariwala lived a life that blended stardom with simplicity, fame with humility. She was a girl next door who became a national icon, yet never lost touch with her roots.Her story isn’t just about a viral music video or a TV show. It’s about a life well-lived, relationships deeply felt, and memories that will linger—on screens, in hearts, and in the soft rhythm of Kaanta Laga. She may have left the stage, but her spotlight will never dim.May her name be remembered not just as the Kaanta Laga girl, but as Shefali—the performer, the friend, the daughter, the wife, the dreamer, and the star who shone in her own unique light.
