In a tragic incident, Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died while shooting for a series called ‘Bhole Baba Paar Karega’ off Talsari beach in Digha, Odisha. The 43-year-old actor was declared dead at a local hospital after being rescued from the sea.
The incident occurred during a shoot in knee-deep water, where crew members attempted to rescue him after he was reported drowning. He was brought to the hospital at 6:10 PM, but unfortunately, efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Authorities have registered a case of unnatural death, and the police are currently investigating whether safety protocols were followed during the shoot. Notably, the director of the series revealed that Rahul had insisted on an unscripted drone shot just before the incident.
Rahul Arunoday Banerjee was a prominent figure in the Bengali film, OTT, and television industry, making his debut in the 2009 movie ‘Chirodini Tumi Je Amar’. He is survived by his wife and 13-year-old son.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her condolences, stating, “This news has left me stunned, heartbroken, and grief-stricken.” She added, “He was one of my favourite actors and a wonderful person.”
Sudipta Chakraborty, a fellow actor, remembered him fondly, saying, “Rahul had a heart of gold. He stood up for me and voiced his opinion against internet hooliganism.”
Diganta Bagchi, a crew member, recounted the harrowing moment, stating, “Crew was shouting, pulled him out of the sea.”
The post-mortem will take place at Contai Sub-divisional Hospital, with the cause of death pending the report. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact circumstances of his drowning.
