Actor Shefali Jariwala, ‘Kaanta Laga’ Fame, Passes Away at 42

Actor and model Shefali Jariwala, popularly known for the song ‘Kaanta Laga’, passed away on Friday night at the age of 42.

Mumbai police officials suspect a sudden drop in blood pressure as the cause of her death and have ruled out foul play for now. “We are awaiting the post-mortem report,” a police officer confirmed.

Actor Collapsed at Home, Declared Dead at Hospital

The police stated that Shefali collapsed at her residence on Friday night. Her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, immediately rushed her to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital in Andheri.

However, doctors at the hospital declared her dead on arrival. Preliminary findings pointed towards a possible cardiac arrest as the cause of death. Her body was later sent to R N Cooper Hospital in Juhu for a post-mortem examination.

Doctors at Cooper Hospital suspect that a sudden dip in blood pressure could have caused the cardiac arrest, leading to her sudden demise.

Fasting and Self-Medication Under Police Lens

According to the police, Shefali was fasting that day for a Satyanarayan puja at their home.

Her husband told the police that she collapsed after eating food prepared the previous day. The police have recorded the statements of her husband and family members.

During the investigation, police found two boxes at her residence containing anti-ageing tablets, skin glow tablets, and vitamin supplements.

Her family confirmed that she had been taking these without medical consultation but had never experienced health issues because of them in the past.

“No foul play is suspected yet. We are waiting for the post-mortem report,” the police officer said.

Remembering Shefali Jariwala’s Career

Shefali Jariwala rose to fame in 2002 with the music video ‘Kaanta Laga’. She also made a brief appearance in the 2004 film ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’ and participated in popular reality shows like ‘Nach Baliye 5’, ‘Nach Baliye 7’, and ‘Bigg Boss 13’.

She had been diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 15 but continued to remain active in the entertainment industry.

Her sudden death at 42 has sent shockwaves through the entertainment world.

What We Know About Her Death So Far

Shefali was taken to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital around 11:15 pm on Friday, where she was declared dead on arrival. Initial reports suggested cardiac arrest as the reason, but the exact cause is yet to be confirmed.

According to early medical observations, her death was possibly due to low blood pressure, cardiac arrest, and a heavy gastric condition. A police official mentioned that based on preliminary information, it appeared to be a natural death.

Shefali’s doctor, who wished to remain anonymous, told NDTV that her last visit to the clinic was in March, three months before her passing.

Possible Triggers: Self-Medication and Food Poisoning

Mumbai police are exploring the possibility that self-medication and food poisoning may have triggered the cardiac arrest.

Shefali consumed stale fried rice while fasting and took anti-ageing injections without recent medical supervision, as per investigators.

Police and forensic experts found Glutathione (commonly used for skin fairness and detoxification), Vitamin C injections, and acidity pills at her home, raising concerns over risky unsupervised treatments, especially during fasting.

Sources revealed to NDTV that Shefali had been using anti-ageing medicines for the last seven to eight years. An insider added, “There was a puja at home on June 27, due to which Shefali was fasting.

Despite this, she took an injection of anti-ageing medicine in the afternoon. These medicines were advised by a doctor years ago, and she has been taking them monthly since then.”

Medical Experts Express Concerns

Dr Rahul Chawla, Consultant Neurologist at the Institute of Brain and Spine, explained to NDTV that IV Glutathione and detoxifying drips are not guideline recommended and can lead to severe side effects like cardiac abnormalities, arrhythmia, and hypotension.

“There have been multiple case reports of patients collapsing or suffering sudden hypotension after such treatments. However, we cannot directly link any sudden cardiac death to Glutathione or detox drips,” Dr Chawla said.

Awaiting Post-Mortem Report

The post-mortem report, expected soon, will clarify the exact cause of Shefali’s death. Police have confirmed they are investigating all possible angles, including medications and food poisoning.

Officials also reiterated that they found no signs of foul play. They confirmed that Shefali was fasting and had taken Glutathione injections on an empty stomach, which could have triggered a drop in her blood pressure, leading to cardiac arrest.

Shefali Jariwala was known not only for her music video fame but also for her appearances on reality television and her active presence on social media, where she shared moments from her life with her husband Parag Tyagi.

The entertainment industry now awaits the post-mortem report to provide clarity on the tragic loss.