Bengali Actor Rahul Banerjee Drowns During Unauthorised Shoot
Talsari Marine Police have stated that no permission was sought or granted for the film shoot at Talsari sea beach, where popular Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee drowned on March 29. The incident occurred while the team was filming scenes for the Bengali daily soap Bhole Baba Par Karega. The shoot had been underway at the beach near the Odisha-West Bengal border since March 27 without any intimation to the police station.
Sharaban Kumar Moharana, Inspector-in-Charge of Talsari Marine Police Station, confirmed: “Before the shoot, no police permission was taken, nor was the police station informed about the shooting.” Authorities also noted that no safety protocols were observed during the production.
According to police, Rahul Banerjee was rushed to Digha Sub-Divisional Hospital, located about 10-12 km from the beach, after being pulled from the water. He was declared dead on arrival around 6:10 pm. The Talsari Marine Police further told that the actor “died while undergoing treatment at Digha Hospital.” An unnatural death case has been registered, and an autopsy will be conducted at the hospital.
Details surrounding the exact sequence of events remain unclear, with varying accounts circulating on social media. The marine police emphasised that the production proceeded without official clearance or coordination with local authorities.
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Rahul Banerjee’s wife, actress Priyanka Sarkar, issued her first public statement late on March 29 via Instagram. She visited his mother at their South Kolkata residence and appealed for privacy, writing: “This is a time of immense grief and deep despair for us. In this difficult moment, we sincerely request space and privacy. There is a child, a mother, a family, and loved ones trying to navigate this loss together. We kindly urge our friends and colleagues in the media to respect our boundaries, refrain from intrusion, and allow us the dignity to grieve in peace.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences, stating she was “shocked and deeply saddened” by the news. She described Rahul as a “distinguished, young, and popular actor” whom she admired and called his passing “an irreparable loss to the Bengali entertainment industry.”
A familiar face in Bengali films and television, Rahul Banerjee made his debut in the 2008 hit Chirodini Tumi Je Amar opposite Priyanka Sarkar. He appeared in supporting roles in movies including Zulfiqar (2016), Byomkesh Gotro (2018), Biday Byomkesh (2018), and The Academy of Fine Arts (2025). His television credits include popular shows such as Tumi Asbe Bole, Laalkuthi, and Desher Maati. He was last seen in the Hoichoi web series Thakurmar Jhuli.