Shefali Jariwala Did 'Kaanta Laga' For Rs 7000, At The Age Of 20, Which Changed Her Life Forever

Actor and former Bigg Boss 13 contestant Shefali Jariwala passed away late at night on June 28, 2025, at the age of 42 after reportedly suffering from a cardiac arrest. Her sudden death has left everyone in shock, with her friends and colleagues sharing their grief on social media and fans mourning the loss of the actress. Reports said that her husband, Parag Tyagi, along with three others, rushed her to the hospital, but she was declared dead upon arrival. As fans struggle to cope with her sudden passing, many are revisiting the iconic song that launched her into stardom and made her a household name.

Shefali Jariwala’s career began with Kaanta Laga

Shefali Jariwala made a debut with the remake of the hit song ‘Kaanta Laga’ which made her an overnight sensation. In an interview for Her Zindagi, Shefali revealed how she never had to face the initial struggle of finding a role. The directors of the song, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru had spotted her outside her college, where she was standing with some of her friends. She came from an academic family and thought someone was pranking her when the offer first came to her.

Shefali Jariwala was the perfect face for Kaanta Laga

Shefali Jariwala explained that music videos back then were made with the same seriousness of that of a movie. It had been 4-5 months already since the directors were searching for the perfect face for the song and that was when they found Shefali. When Shefali was approached, she really wanted to do the part, but convincing her parents was a task. She was an engineering student and her parents wanted her to focus on her studies.

Shefali Jariwala’s parents were convinced by her directors

Shefali was the only choice for the song so her directors made, sure to convince her parents. They convinced them that the shooting wouldn't be a hurdle between her studies and assured that she would never miss her college. Her marks won’t dip and they would schedule the shooting as per her requirements. Finally, they were convinced and the song was shot. Shefali was paid Rs 7000 for the music video, which turned her from a normal college-going girl to an overnight star. 

Shefali Jariwala’s life was changed in a day

Shefali, when asked how she dealt with all the success and recognition she received after Kaanta Laga, said that she came from a humble background and people around her never treated her any differently for her to actually realise how big of a hit the song was. However, it did want her to work harder and look forward to other opportunities, a trait that stayed with her till the end. After the song, she participated in many performances all over the country, and that was an experience she loved and cherished throughout her life.

Shefali Jariwala had to deal with a lot of controversy after Kaanta Laga

The song was way ahead of its time and while many fans love it as a cult classic now, people at the time found it scandalous. The controversy arose and Shefali was judged for her participation in the song. Rumours like her brother had killed her, she had brought shame to her family, were being spread all around. She was quite young and had started to get affected by these rumours but thankfully she had a strong support system which helped her deal with all the hate.

Shefali Jariwala did not sign any movies after the song

Shefali had promised her dad she would complete her studies and she kept the promise. After the success of the song, she was offered many films but she didn’t sign any of them and focused solely on her studies. After a while, when she felt a monotony had entered her life, she decided to enter the acting world and was offered the web series, Baby Come Naa. She had also been part of reality shows like Big Boss 13 and Nach Baliye 5.

How hard was it to be a part of the industry for Shefali Jariwala?

Shefali knew it was not easy to survive the industry and its challenges. It's a 24/7 job that sees no time. For a person to survive and thrive in the field they have, to constantly hone their skills. There are a lot of insecurities because of how demanding the industry is. An actor's blood, sweat and tears are most of the time hidden behind the glamour of the screen. Rejection is a very big part of the industry and hard to deal with. Shefali, however, called herself as a very positive person who believed that whatever happens, happens for a reason.

Shefali loved to be the Kaanta Laga girl

From the beginning of her career, Shefali was known as the Kaanta Laga girl, an identity that stuck with her throughout her career. One might think she would have gotten bored of it, but shockingly, Shefali loved it. She believed it takes decades for a person to establish an identity for themselves, but her first project did it for her and she was very grateful and thankful for it. 

Shefali Jariwala’s untimely death has left the fans shocked

The news of Shefali’s death came as a shock to the whole nation. Late at night, on June 28, 2025, many media houses reported the untimely demise of Shefali. It was later reported by the ToI that Shefali passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest. She was taken to the hospital but it was already too late and she was pronounced dead. Her mother, and husband Parag Tyagi were seen in a disheveled state crying after her demise.

Shefali will always be remembered as an icon

The 2000s witnessed an era of remixes with hip beats and bold cinematography and Kaanta Laga was one of the pioneers in the field. Shefali and her enchanting performance was the major force behind the success of the song. While she was initially criticised she became a household face after the song. She will forever be remembered as the iconic Kaanta Laga Girl and her legacy will live on.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Shefali’s family and friends. We hope they find strength, comfort, and support as they navigate through this difficult time.

Also Read: Shefali Jariwala Shared Health Issues, Said 'Want To Be Known As Kaata Laga Girl Till The Day I Die'

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