MADNAPORE, March 29 : Renowned Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died after drowning in the Bay of Bengal at Odisha’s Talsari while shooting for a television serial on Sunday, industry sources said.
According to preliminary reports, the incident occurred after the day’s shooting for the Bengali serial Bhole Baba Par Karega.
The actor had entered the water near Talsari beach following the day’s shoot when he allegedly went missing beneath the surface. Technicians present at the location noticed the situation after he failed to return for a considerable period and rushed to rescue him.
Crew members managed to pull him out of the water and immediately arranged for his transfer to Digha State General Hospital. However, sources said he was declared dead upon arrival.
Initial indications suggest death by drowning, though officials said the exact circumstances would be confirmed after post-mortem examination, which is expected to be conducted at the Digha hospital.
Actor Bhaskar Banerjee, who plays Rahul’s on-screen uncle in the serial, confirmed that the unit had travelled to Talsari for the shoot. “It is a heartbreaking incident. It happened after pack-up. We still do not know exactly how it occurred,” he said, adding that the team had gone for lunch while Rahul stayed back to complete a few additional shots.
Diganta Bagchi, speaking on behalf of the Artists’ Forum, said Rahul entered the water after shooting concluded. “Either he did not know swimming or got trapped somehow. Technicians suddenly shouted that Rahul-da was drowning. He was alive when he was rescued, but doctors later declared him dead,” he said.
Rahul Arunoday Banerjee began his film career with the popular Bengali movie Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, where he starred opposite Priyanka Sarkar, whom he later married. The couple have a son. Over the years, he built a strong presence across cinema and televisio.
He appeared in films such as Love Circus, Shono Mon Boli Tomay, Byomkesh Phire Elo, Byomkesh Gotro, Biday Byomkesh, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Kagojer Bou, Zulfiqar and Ebar Shabor.. He received a number of awards, including Anandalok Award for the Best Actor for his role in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar (2008). (UNI)
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