Shefali Jariwala, the actor and model who first shot to fame with the 2002 hit Kaanta Laga, passed away late on Friday night at her residence in Mumbai. Investigators now suspect that the cause of her sudden cardiac arrest could be linked to anti-ageing medicines she had been taking for several years.
Preliminary findings based on witness accounts, medical advice, and forensic evidence suggest that Jariwala, 41, had administered an anti-ageing injection on the afternoon of 27 June while observing a fast for a religious ritual. The combination of fasting and medication may have contributed to her fatal condition, according to those familiar with the case.
“Shefali was regularly consuming anti-ageing medicines for the last seven-eight years,” a source associated with the investigation informed. “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 of the same day.”
She collapsed between 10 and 11 PM, her body reportedly trembling before she lost consciousness. She was rushed to Bellevue Hospital by her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, and other family members. Doctors declared her dead on arrival.
The police have since launched an in-depth probe into the circumstances surrounding her death. Forensic teams have collected various substances from her home, including anti-ageing vials, vitamin supplements, and gastric medication.
Also read: Shefali Jariwala, ‘Kaanta Laga’ icon passes away at 42
“So far, the police have recorded the statements of eight people, including family members, domestic workers, and doctors,” the source added. “There have been no indications of dispute or foul play.”
Officials are now awaiting postmortem findings and laboratory results from the seized vials to confirm whether any component in the medication directly triggered her cardiac arrest. The investigation remains open.
In an earlier report, musician Harmeet Singh, Shefali’s ex-husband, expressed regret at not being able to attend her last rites. Meanwhile, a resurfaced video featuring former Bigg Boss contestant Paras Chhabra, who eerily mentioned a “sudden death” of Shefali in the past, went viral online.
Her husband Parag Tyagi was seen in a visibly emotional state outside the hospital on Friday night. The family has not yet issued a formal statement regarding her death.
Jariwala’s rise to fame came through the early-2000s remix music scene, particularly with her breakout appearance in Kaanta Laga. She later appeared in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and transitioned to television, participating in Nach Baliye with her husband and entering Bigg Boss 13.
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