Actress Shefali Jariwala, best known for her breakout appearance in the 2002 music video Kaanta Laga, died suddenly at the age of 42 on June 27 in Mumbai.
While the official cause of death awaits forensic confirmation, preliminary findings point to cardiac arrest, likely linked to a combination of fasting, medication intake on an empty stomach, and unsupervised supplement use.
Shefali, a health-conscious performer, had reportedly been observing a fast following a Satyanarayan Puja at her family home, a ritual meant to invoke prosperity and well-being.
Her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, told the police that she had refrained from eating for several hours as part of the ritual. That evening, she consumed leftover food before collapsing around 10.30pm, reported the Hindustan Times.
According to Tyagi, he had stepped out of their Mumbai residence to walk their dog when he received a call from the house help alerting him that Shefali had fainted. He immediately rushed back upstairs in the elevator, while the domestic aide went down to tend to their elderly pet.
Tyagi found Shefali unresponsive but with a pulse. Her eyes would not open, and her body appeared lifeless.
He rushed her to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital in Andheri, where doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Mumbai Police arrived at the hospital before midnight and recorded statements from her husband, relatives, friends and household staff. The post-mortem was conducted at R N Cooper Hospital in Juhu, and initial findings indicated a heart attack.
The autopsy was video recorded, and as per protocol, viscera samples were preserved and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Kalina for further analysis, which may take up to three months.
Close friend and industry colleague Pooja Ghai, who spoke to entertainment journalist Vickey Lalwani, recounted Tyagi’s version of events.
She described his visible grief and said her only fear was that he might be unjustly suspected. “Parag was grieving, but the police were naturally doing their duty. My only hope was that he wouldn’t be dragged into a prolonged investigation, like others have been in the past. Thankfully, there was no foul play, and he was released,” she said.
Pooja added that Shefali had taken a Vitamin-C IV drip earlier that day, which she had done occasionally before. Though these drips are promoted as skin-boosting and popular in places like Dubai, questions are now being raised about the safety of using such treatments without medical supervision.
“Shefali was very conscious of her health. She never took chances with her food or medications,” Pooja insisted.
Despite her cautious nature, investigators found various cosmetic and wellness products at her home – including glutathione vials, anti-ageing supplements, skin-glow tablets, and other vitamin products – many of which are not prescription-based but could pose risks if taken without supervision or on an empty stomach.
Sources within the hospital and police suggest Shefali’s collapse may have been triggered by severely low blood pressure, possibly due to the fast and the medications, reported NDTV. This is also being investigated as a potential contributing factor to her cardiac arrest.
Shefali’s mother, overwhelmed with grief, had to be hospitalised the following day, while Tyagi was described as being in a state of emotional shock.
There is currently no evidence of foul play or external harm. However, authorities have taken statements from family members and the house staff to reconstruct the final hours of the actress’s life.
Her death has triggered broader conversations within the industry and among the public about the dangers of unsupervised health treatments and the pressure many celebrities face to maintain a certain image.
Shefali’s death has left her fans and colleagues shocked.
She first rose to national fame at just 20 years old through her appearance in the music video Kaanta Laga, which became a cultural sensation.
Though she didn’t replicate that level of success again, she remained in the public eye through reality TV appearances and select acting roles, and had built a loyal following on social media.
Her funeral took place on June 28 after the body was released to the family. Meanwhile, police have assured that a detailed report will be prepared once the toxicology and forensic results are available.
