Shefali Jariwala was fun-loving and kind-hearted, say Rahul Vaidya and Surbhi Shukla

Shefali Jariwala, best known as the Kaanta Laga girl, passed away at the age of 42 on June 27 in Mumbai. She reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest and was rushed to a hospital by her husband, Parag Tyagi.

She was declared dead on arrival. A post-mortem was later conducted at Cooper Hospital.Rising to fame in 2002 with the music video Kaanta Laga, she later appeared in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and participated in reality shows like Bigg Boss 13 and Nach Baliye. Her only fiction show on television was Shaitani Rasmein, which aired last year. Known for her candour, Shefali also spoke openly about battling epilepsy and mental health issues.‘She was a kind-hearted and fun-loving soul’Rahul Vaidya: The singer and reality show participant said, “I had known her for 15 years — we had performed together at a few live shows. She supported me during Bigg Boss, and after I came out of the show, I called her to thank her for her support. The last time we spoke was, I believe, early last year. We had even discussed collaborating on a song. She was a kind-hearted and fun-loving soul. Her absence will be deeply felt.

Om Shanti.”‘On set, she was always cheerful and down-to-earth’Surbhi Shukla: Shefali appeared in the TV show Shaitani Rasmein last year. Her co-actor Surbhi Shukla said, “I’m still finding it hard to believe she’s gone. On set, she was always cheerful and down-to-earth. At the same time, she was very hardworking, often quietly sitting in a corner, going over her lines with full dedication. She was fit, committed and full of life. She was a kind, warm and a great co-actor. What I remember most is her at our 50-episode celebration — dancing, singing, and laughing.

That happy image is what stays with me now.”