Popular Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died due to accidental drowning at Talasari in Digha near Odisha-West Bengal border on Sunday (March 29). He was 43 years old. His wife, Priyanka Sarkar, shared a statement on Instagram, requesting privacy as the family grapples with the loss.

Popular Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died due to accidental drowning at Talasari in Digha near Odisha-West Bengal border on Sunday (March 29). He was 43 years old.his wife, Priyanka governmentshared a statement on Instagram, requesting privacy as the family copes with the loss.“This is a time of extreme sadness and deep disappointment for us. At this difficult moment, we sincerely request space and privacy,” he wrote.He said, “A child, a mother, a family and loved ones are trying to come to terms with this loss together. We urge our friends and colleagues in the media to respect our boundaries, avoid intrusions and give us the respect to grieve in peace. Your understanding and support matter more than ever at this time.”Rahul and Priyanka got married in 2010, separated in 2017, and later reconciled in 2023 as they continued to raise their son Shohoj together.

Drowning incident after shooting

The actor had traveled for the shooting of his television show Bholebaba Paar Karega, which was going on since Sunday morning.According to preliminary information, this incident happened after pack-up in the afternoon. Rahul reportedly ventured into the sea alone and soon went missing, causing panic among the production unit members.The crew members and technicians managed to pull him out of the water and took him to Digha Sub-Divisional Hospital, about 10-12 km from Talsari beach. He was declared dead at 6:10 pm, with initial reports citing drowning as the cause.

Last video from the set goes viral

A video of Rahul from the sets of the show has surfaced online and is being shared widely. The clip shows the actor preparing for a shot with a co-actor near a car, surrounded by onlookers and capturing the moments before the tragedy.

Co-actor remembered his last moments

Rahul’s co-actor Diganta Bagchi told PTI, “After today’s shoot, he went into the water alone but somehow got stuck in something inside the water… The exact circumstances are not clear. Suddenly, people including the crew members were shouting that Rahul is drowning and we pulled him out of the water. We took him to Digha hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.”

Industry in shock

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Expressing grief over the demise of the actor, he said, “I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news that the iconic, young and popular actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee is suddenly no more with us. I can’t understand what exactly happened. He was one of my favorite actors and someone I really admired. I express my heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family, loved ones and countless fans.He said, “Rahul’s sudden demise is an irreparable loss to the Bengali entertainment industry.”Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty, who directed Rahul in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, said he was shocked to hear the news, while actor-director Anjan Dutta also expressed grief.Rahul Arunoday Banerjee was known for films like Zulfikar, Byomkesh Gotro and Bidaya Byomkesh as well as popular television shows including Hargauri Peace Hotel and Mohona.