Shefali Jariwala’s sudden passing has left Bollywood in shock. Known worldwide as the “Kaanta Laga” girl, she passed away on June 27 following a cardiac arrest. She was just 42. In an emotional tribute, Kaanta Laga directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru have now decided to retire the iconic music video forever, saying no one else will ever take Shefali’s place.
The director duo shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, remembering Shefali’s infectious energy and the memories from their first music video shoot. They wrote, “You Always Said You Wanted To Be The One And Only \’Kaanta Laga\’ Girl. So We Never Made A Sequel – And We Never Will. We\’re Retiring \’Kaanta Laga\’ Forever. It Was Always Yours. It Will Always Be Yours… Shefali…RIP.”
Check out the post below!
How Shefali Jariwala Became The Kaanta Laga Girl
Recently, the directors also shared how their journey with Shefali began. In an interview with ANI, Vinay Sapru recalled a random encounter on Linking Road in Bandra. He said, “We were passing through a forest and saw this young girl hugging her mother on a scooter. Radhika thought she was very special, so we stopped and asked if she would come to our office. That’s how the journey began.”
That chance meeting led to the creation of Kaanta Laga, one of India’s most iconic music videos. Released in 2002, the track turned Shefali into a pop culture sensation. But despite the overnight fame, Shefali stayed grounded and mostly kept her personal life out of the limelight.
She went on to act in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004), sharing screen space with Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. Later, she found a new fanbase through reality TV shows like Bigg Boss 13 and Nach Baliye, where she participated with her husband, actor Parag Tyagi.
Parag Tyagi Shares Emotional Goodbye Note
After staying silent for a few days, Parag Tyagi finally expressed his grief through an emotional Instagram post yesterday. He described Shefali as strong, graceful, and determined. Parag remembered her as someone who always cared for others and spread warmth through her presence. He called her a loving wife, daughter, sister, and caring pet mom to their dog Simba.
He urged everyone to celebrate her life by spreading kindness and love. Parag said her legacy would live on forever because of the happiness she brought to people’s lives.
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For the unversed, Shefali was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital after suffering cardiac arrest but was declared dead on arrival. Her body was sent for post-mortem, but the exact cause of death has been reserved for now.
Shefali’s last rites were held on Saturday, attended by friends and colleagues from the film and TV industry. One unforgettable music video made her a star, but her kindness is what people are remembering most.
