Rahul Arunoday Banerjee death: Producers of Bengali TV serial express grief, assure transparency in probe

Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died after drowning in the sea at Talsari beach in Odisha during shoot. He was 43.

Rahul Arunoday Banerjee death: Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died in Odisha on March 29 after a drowning incident while shooting for the Bengali soap Bholebaba Paar Karega. He died at the Talsari beach in Odisha, film industry sources said. His untimely death has shocked the Bengali film industry, with several stars sharing their condolences. Many celebrities also demanded an enquiry into the death, while All Indian Cine Workers Association called for a judicial inquiry as well as FIR against producers of the TV serial.

Rahul Arunoday Banerjee was a known face and name in the Bengali entertainment industry. He shot to fame with his role in the blockbuster 'Chirodini tumi je amar' in 2008. (Rahul Arunoday Banerjee on Instagram)

What the producers said

As per the latest update on news agency PTI, the producers of the Bengali television serial 'Bhole Baba Par Karega' on Wednesday expressed grief over the death of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee and said they would welcome a representative from his family or industry bodies to join the inquiry into the incident.

In a statement, the production house said all members of the cast and crew were "in profound mourning", and efforts were underway to speak to those present during the incident to ascertain the sequence of events.

A representative from his family welcome to join probe

"We request a few days to gather accounts of the cast and crew present at the time of the tragedy, in a neutral and structured manner, so that we can present a comprehensive and accurate report," it said. The producers added that they would welcome a representative nominated by the actor's family, friends or the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists' Forum to observe the process and ensure fairness.

Addressing the sequence of events, the statement said preliminary information suggested that Banerjee was rescued alive from the water and was attempting to communicate. He was first taken to a nearby clinic at Talsari where no doctor was available, and was later shifted to Digha State General Hospital, where he was declared dead. The company also sought to counter speculation in sections of the media, particularly claims that the actor remained underwater for an extended period, stating that such reports are "in all probability incorrect".

It further said all permissions, communications with authorities and relevant documents would be furnished as part of the ongoing investigation, and asserted that "no possibility of negligence, however small, will go unexamined". The statement by the production house claimed director Saibal Banerjee, who was in Mumbai at the time of the incident, rushed to Kolkata upon receiving the news and visited the actor's residence the same night.

Officials stated that the two were allegedly performing a dance sequence in knee-deep water when they suddenly slipped into a ditch. Both were rushed to Digha Hospital; however, Rahul could not be saved.

Rahul rose to fame with the 2008 blockbuster romantic film Chirodini Tumi Je Amar. He starred opposite Priyanka Sarkar in the film directed by Raj Chakraborty. The two became overnight stars after the film's success, and also started dating during that time. The two married in 2010 and had a son, Shohoj Banerjee. They separated in 2017 but reconciled in 2023 to jointly raise Shohoj.

(via inputs from PTI)