Mumbai, July 3, 2025: In a heartfelt tribute to the late Shefali Jariwala, the unforgettable face of the 2002 chartbuster Kaanta Laga, the song’s creators Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru have announced that the track will never be recreated, remixed, or reprised again.
The duo, who directed the original music video that turned Shefali into a pop culture phenomenon, made an emotional statement saying that Kaanta Laga belongs solely to her. “Shefali Jariwala is and will always be the one and only Kaanta Laga girl,” they stated. “This song is hers. We cannot imagine anyone else stepping into her shoes, and we never will.”
The directors likened the gesture to retiring the jersey number of a legendary athlete, a practice often used in sports to honor a player’s irreplaceable contribution. “Just like how a team retires a great player’s number, we are retiring Kaanta Laga. It will remain untouched—forever associated with Shefali,” they added.
Shefali Jariwala’s performance in the music video redefined the landscape of Indian pop music in the early 2000s. With her bold styling, electric screen presence, and dance moves, she left an indelible mark and earned the moniker “The Kaanta Laga Girl.”
Her sudden demise has sent waves of grief across the industry and among fans, many of whom remember the song as a defining anthem of their youth. Social media has been flooded with tributes and throwbacks, reflecting the deep cultural impact of the song and Shefali’s iconic presence.
The decision to retire the song not only cements Shefali’s legacy but also respects the emotional bond millions have with the track and the woman who made it legendary.
The song that once launched a thousand remixes will now rest in silence—a poignant and powerful reminder of Shefali Jariwala’s unmatched charisma and the mark she left on Indian pop history.
