Actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee dies in accidental drowning during film shoot in Odisha

Prominent Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee passed away on Sunday following a tragic drowning incident at Talsari beach in Odisha. The 43-year-old actor, known for his roles in both films and television, had gone to the beach for a shoot when the mishap occurred. According to eyewitness accounts, he went alone into the sea after the day’s shooting concluded. Co-actor Diganta Bagchi told PTI that Banerjee might have become entangled in something underwater, and by the time the crew realised he was struggling, it was too late. Despite being pulled out of the water and rushed to the Digha hospital, doctors declared him brought dead.

A West Bengal Police officer confirmed that a case of unnatural death has been registered at Digha police station. Authorities are coordinating with their counterparts in Odisha to clarify the exact sequence of events, while interviews with the production team and witnesses are ongoing.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep sorrow at the actor’s death, calling him one of her favourites and describing his demise as an irreparable loss to Bengali cinema and television. Rahul Banerjee was a well-known figure in the Bengali entertainment industry, achieving fame with the 2008 blockbuster ‘Chirodini Tumi Je Amar’. He later featured in notable films such as ‘Tumi Asbe Bole’, ‘Zulfiqar’, and ‘Byomkesh Gotro’, as well as television serials like ‘Mohonna’ and ‘Hargouri Pice Hotel’. He is survived by his wife, actor Priyanka Sarkar, and their 13-year-old son.