Actress and model Shefali Jariwala, famously known as the 'Kaanta Laga girl,' passed away on June 27 at the age of 42. She was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital by her husband, Parag Tyagi, but was declared dead upon arrival. Initial reports suggested cardiac arrest as the cause of death, though later details indicated a potential combination of low blood pressure, gastric distress, and self-medication. A post-mortem conducted at Cooper Hospital found no evidence of foul play. She is survived by her husband, Parag Tyagi, and her untimely demise prompted an outpouring of condolences from celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Aly Goni, and Kiku Sharda.

Following his wife's tragic passing, Parag Tyagi shared heartfelt tributes on social media. On July 6, 2025, he posted a video compilation of their cherished moments, featuring pictures of them embracing, smiling, and on vacations, set to Mateo Oxley’s ‘I Love You Always Forever.’ In the emotional caption, he vowed to love her in every lifetime, writing, “PARI I WILL FIND YOU EVERY TIME YOU ARE BORN AND I WILL LOVE YOU IN EVERY LIFETIME ❤️😘 I LOVE YOU ETERNALLY MERI GUNDI MERI CHOKRI 😘❤️🤗.” A few days prior, he had made his first public statement since her death, addressing her as “Shefali, Meri Pari — the ever-eternal Kaanta Laga,” describing her as “fire wrapped in grace — sharp, focused, and fiercely driven,” and emphasizing her selfless love and role as “sab ki maa” (everyone's mom), a devoted wife, and a wonderful mother to Simba.

Shefali Jariwala’s demise also reignited discussions about the intrusive nature of digital media coverage surrounding celebrity deaths, highlighting how grief can become a public spectacle. Hours after performing the last rites, a distraught Parag Tyagi publicly requested media and paparazzi to refrain from filming the sensitive event and from making light of his beloved's passing. His plea followed a day of what many described as “grief voyeurism,” with mediapersons filming him walking his dog, pushing cameras into the faces of mourners, and even capturing him kissing his late wife's mortal remains. This insensitivity was widely criticized, with Bollywood star Varun Dhawan questioning the need to cover “someone's grief” on Instagram, a sentiment echoed by many in the industry.

Veteran Bollywood photographer Yogen Shah questioned the rationale behind covering celebrity funerals at all, emphasizing the importance of sensitivity and consent. He cited instances, like the prayer meet for Shefali Jariwala and the funeral of Anil Kapoor's mother, where media respected family wishes not to photograph. Popular Bollywood pap Snehkumar Zala noted that in the absence of formal rules, personal discretion is crucial, advocating against invasive filming of grieving individuals. However, he also pointed out that the rise of YouTubers and other video channels makes containment difficult.

Publicists like Priyanka Chandra of Mulberry Media criticized how many