Shefali Jariwala, who gained popularity with her dramatic look in the 2002 music video Kaanta Laga, has passed away at the age of 42. The accident happened late on Friday evening in Mumbai.
Preliminary reports indicate that she was found by her husband in an unconscious state and was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital. She was found dead on arrival despite emergency treatment.
Although the family has not yet made an official announcement of the cause of death, initial media reports suggest that she might have died of a cardiac arrest. A postmortem is being done at Cooper Hospital.
Given the unexpected nature of her death, Mumbai Police have initiated a preliminary investigation. Domestic employees such as the cook and the help are being interviewed to gather information on what events had transpired before she passed away.
A forensic team also went to Jariwala's residence and conducted a thorough check of the premises. Although authorities have so far not confirmed any foul play, the presence of police and forensic experts indicates that a suspicious situation may be involved.
Shefali initially became nationally known through Kaanta Laga, the remix song that caused a pop culture phenomenon in early 2000s India. Success with the world of music videos led to her debut in Bollywood, including a cameo appearance in Salman Khan's Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and a lead role in the 2019 web show Baby Come Naa.
She also made a place for herself in reality television, appearing in dance programs such as Boogie Woogie and Nach Baliye, further establishing her fan base in Indian audiences.
She appeared on the Bigg Boss 13 cast in 2019, reuniting with past boyfriend and fellow housemate Sidharth Shukla. The two dated over 15 years previous. Shukla himself passed away suddenly in his 40s, under likewise tragic conditions.
In what is now emotional, Jariwala's last tweet on X (formerly Twitter) was a eulogy for Shukla. She had written: "Thinking of you today mere dost Sidharth Shukla."
