New Delhi: Shefali Jariwala’s untimely death at the age of 42 has left fans and the entertainment fraternity in shock. Best known for her breakout appearance in the iconic 2002 remix video Kaanta Laga, Shefali had once been hailed as a rising star poised for Bollywood success. However, what had remained largely hidden from the public eye was a deeply personal battle, one that shaped her career and ultimately limited her rise in the industry.
It was at just 19 that Shefali became a household name. The sultry visuals of Kaanta Laga, paired with her electric screen presence, made her a sensation overnight. A year later, she was listed alongside names like Priyanka Chopra and Shahid Kapoor as a breakout star in a popular radio poll. A cameo in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, where she shared the frame with Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan, followed soon after. From there, the stage seemed set for a successful run in films. But the momentum was quietly derailed.
Shefali Jariwala’s silent battle with epilepsy
Despite her fame, Shefali stayed away from mainstream cinema. Her only other film appearance was in the 2011 Kannada movie Hudugaru. On television, she remained largely absent, making occasional appearances in dance and reality shows like Nach Baliye and Boogie Woogie, and later acting in the web series Baby Come Naa and Shaitani Rasmein.
The reason behind Shefali’s prolonged absence was revealed by Shefali herself in a 2020 interview, where she opened up about her long battle with epilepsy. “After I did Kaanta Laga, people asked me why I didn’t do more work. I can now say that it was because of the epileptic seizures that I couldn’t take up much work. I didn’t know when I would get my next seizure… this went on for 15 years,” she said.
She recalled having suffered her first seizure at 15, during a period of academic stress. “Stress and anxiety can lead to seizures. It’s interrelated,” she explained, adding, “I have had seizures in classrooms, backstage, while on roads, and somewhere that lowered my self-esteem.”
Shefali Jariwala death
On Friday (June 27) evening, Shefali reportedly felt unwell at her Andheri residence. She was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital by her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, but was declared dead on arrival. While the police confirmed her death, the exact cause remains unconfirmed, though a cardiac arrest has been suspected.