Going through a divorce is never easy, and for some, it can feel like the end of something much bigger. Actor and model Shefali Jariwala, who passed away on June 27 — her husband Parag Tyagi found her lifeless in their Mumbai home — was earlier married to Harmeet Singh of Meet Bros.
Singh, who is currently in Europe, condoled her death in an emotional Instagram post. “One of the most shocking moments of my life. I’m absolutely shattered and in disbelief after hearing about Shefali’s sudden and untimely demise. We shared a few beautiful years together a long time ago — memories I’ll always hold close to my heart. My deepest condolences to her parents — Satish ji and Sunita ji, her husband Parag, and her sister Shivani. Being away in Europe right now, it’s painful for me not to be there for the last rites. Gone far too soon. I pray to the Almighty for her soul to rest in peace and strength to the family during this unimaginable time. Jai Shree Krishna,” he wrote.
Their past, though long behind them, had once been a source of deep emotional upheaval for Jariwala. In an old interview, she had opened up about how her first marriage and the subsequent separation affected her emotionally. Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, she said, “When that happens to you, you think it’s the end of the world, it is difficult, you think ‘what has happened?’ I was so young when I got married and I got divorced. It was very difficult for me but I had a very strong support system — my parents, my friends and everybody — so I could deal with it.”
Jariwala also touched upon the emotional spiral that many go through post-divorce. “And then, there are times when you stop believing in love. You go through that phase where you are like, ‘I don’t think I’ll ever fall in love again’ or ‘I don’t think I’ll ever get into a relationship again, shaadi toh bohot door ki baat hai (marriage is a long shot)’.”
Recalling that she was heavily judged and trolled after their divorce became public knowledge, she said that with time, she healed, and eventually married Tyagi, but the journey wasn’t without its challenges. “People would say, ‘Isi ne kuch kiya hoga, isi mein kuch hoga, yeh toh Kaanta Laga ladki hai, yeh bohot bold hai (She must be the one at fault, she is the Kaanta Laga girl, she is so bold).’ Come on! That is a character we play on screen,” Jariwala had said.
Harmeet Singh of Meet Bros grieves Shefali Jariwala’s untimely death (Source: Instagram/Harmeet Singh Meet Bros)
But, why do people often feel like they’ll never fall in love again after a difficult breakup or divorce?
Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “It’s one of the most common things people say after a breakup or divorce, and it’s not because they’ve given up on love — it’s because something in them no longer feels safe.”
This is a nervous system response, he said, not a failure of hope. “When you’ve loved with your whole self and it ends, especially in betrayal or silence, your body registers it as danger.”
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“Therapeutically, I see this often,” says Raj, adding that clients don’t just grieve the relationship, they grieve the version of themselves that was open, trusting, hopeful. And what replaces it, at least for a while, is fatigue. “In India, this pain is often made heavier by social noise. People rush you to move on, or expect you to stay broken. Either way, there’s little space to just feel lost,” notes the psychologist.
Advice for those who want to open their heart again but are scared of being judged or hurt
Raj says, “Love after loss doesn’t mean you failed. It means you survived. It means your heart still wants connection, even after knowing what it costs. That’s not weakness, that’s resilience. Fear doesn’t need to go away. It needs a seat at the table — not the head of it. Don’t wait to feel fearless. Wait to feel honest.”
If someone judges you for trying again, he says, that’s about their discomfort, not your truth. The people who matter won’t ask you to shrink. “Take your time. Just begin by choosing differently — slower, wiser, more attuned to how your body responds to closeness. Safety is quiet. And it’s okay to ask for it,” says Raj.
