How Shefali Jariwala's Kaanta Laga Became A Major Pop-Culture Moment In The 2000s
New Delhi, June 28, 2025 — Bollywood actress-model Shefali Jariwala, who first gained immense popularity with her iconic remix Kaanta Laga, has sadly passed away at the age of 42. She was declared dead on arrival at Bellevue Multispecialty Hospital in Mumbai after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest on the night of June 27 .
Her husband, Parag Tyagi, was overcome with grief outside the hospital, visibly devastated by the loss . Authorities have taken her body to Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem examination, as the exact cause of death remains officially unconfirmed
Fans and colleagues are reeling from the news. Shefali was particularly known for kicking off the influential "remix era" of the 2000s. It was during her time at engineering college that directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru discovered her—a discovery that launched her fast-track rise to fame
Her journey continued with notable roles in films like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and appearances on reality shows including Nach Baliye and Bigg Boss 13, where she won hearts with her charisma and dance talent
She had said, "My father was completely against it. Therefore, I convinced my mother first, and then we both persuaded my father. And that song turned out to be such a hit that it was like a fairytale for me. It changed my life completely." She continued, "I was in college at the time and I come from a family of academicians, so my parents told me to focus on my studies." She shared her enthusiasm for Kaanta Laga. But the fact that I was getting paid for it made me want to do it. I earned Rs 7,000 from that song, and I wanted to see myself on TV." Rewind to the Craze of Kaanta Laga At first, Kaanta Laga was a scene in the movie Samadhi, which Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Asha Parekh directed. The song was then picked up for a remix version by T-Series for their album DJ Doll with an accompanying music video featuring Shefali Jariwala. It was like Shefali Jariwala had a natural pop-star vibe on camera. Something that also drew in the audience and the song was an instant click with them. Sung by Pallavi Kelkar and coupled with Shefali Jariwala's effortless dance moves, the song became a chartbuster in no time. Kaanta Laga stands out because it was released at a time when Bollywood was just starting to embrace remixes. This song became a pop culture phenomenon that people still remember and played a crucial role in revolutionizing that time period. As they say, trends are a perpetual cyclic process, as it stands true with the remixes in Bollywood. While newer remixes and remakes have replaced Kaanta Laga in the Top 10 charts, Shefali Jariwala's career-defining moment is still considered a strong referral point in this context. It solidified her position in pop culture and also invoked a sense of deep nostalgia for the 2000s. While the bold frames were met with certain objectionable remarks, they continued to survive the test of time and remain a fan-favourite. Advertisement Shefali Jariwala went on to do several other projects in the entertainment industry. She appeared in Nach Baliye 5 and Big Boss 13. However, Shefali Jarawali will always be remembered for the way she made Kaanta Laga a household name.