'Kaanta Laga Will Always Be Hers' Makers RETIRE The Iconic Song After Shefali Jariwala's Death At 42

Shefali Jariwala, best known as the Kaanta Laga girl, unexpectedly passed away at 42 in the late hours of June 27, 2025, from a suspected cardiac arrest. As the industry mourns her unexpected demise, the makers of Kaanta Laga, directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, have officially announced that the timeless 2002 remix that catapulted Shefali to overnight fame will never see a sequel. For those unaware, Shefali wanted to be forever remembered as the Kaanta Laga girl, but after her demise, buzz around a potential sequel to the song was making rounds.

Kaanta Laga makers release a statement, retiring the song after Shefali Jariwala’s demise

On July 3, 2025, the makers of Kaanta Laga 2002 remix, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, shared an emotional statement on Instagram, a day after Shefali Jariwala’s prayer meet. Amid swirling reports of a potential sequel, the director duo shut down all speculation. Sharing a nostalgic photo from their first shoot with Jariwala, the CD inlay card from the original release, the directors recalled her unforgettable presence on set. The statement reads:

“Yesterday Was The Prayer Meeting. Saying The Final Goodbyes... With Our First Photo Session Together.. 'Kaanta Laga' - CD Inlay Card. 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.”

Shefali Jariwala, the girl who redefined pop culture

Shefali Jariwala became a national sensation overnight with the 2002 version of Kaanta Laga, a remix that broke the internet long before viral was a thing. Her confident dance moves, daring attire, and magnetic screen presence turned her into an early-2000s icon. 

In a 2020 interview with Rediff, Shefali Jariwala revealed that Kaanta Laga happened by chance when the directors spotted her outside college. What she took up casually for some pocket money ended up changing her life, with the directors becoming her 'fairy godmothers' who transformed her from an ‘ugly duckling’ to a ‘beautiful swan’. She said:

“Well, Kaanta Laga happened to me absolutely by chance. I was chilling outside my college, and the directors of the video, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, they spotted me there, and they offered me the song. What I just did for fun and a little bit of pocket money — it just completely changed my life. They were like fairy godmothers. They came and waved their magic wand and turned this ugly duckling into this beautiful swan. So yeah, it changed my life completely.”

The industry bids a final goodbye to the ever-so-lively Shefali Jariwala

Following Shefali’s untimely demise, a prayer meet was held on July 2, 2025, where close friends and family members gathered to pay their final respects and bid a heartfelt farewell to the late actress. Meanwhile, the Mumbai Police is still investigating to find the exact cause of death. 

According to reports, authorities found anti-ageing injections, glutathione shots, and Vitamin C pills at her residence. Shefali had allegedly been on a self-prescribed anti-ageing regimen for over five years, which may have played a role in her sudden cardiac arrest.

Rest in power, Shefali Jariwala. You were the moment, and you always will be the Kaanta Laga girl.

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