Shock and unanswered questions surround the death of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, who drowned during a shoot at Talsari beach on Sunday. He was 43. Known for films such as Chirodini... Tumi Je Amar, Zulfiqar, Byomkesh Gotro and Academy of Fine Arts, Banerjee was on location for the shoot of the TV serial Bhole Baba Par Karega since Sunday morning. However, what transpired in the crucial moments remains unclear. He was reportedly pulled out of the water and rushed to the Digha Sub-divisional Hospital – around 10-12 km away – where doctors declared him dead at 6:10 pm.

Police said the body was kept at the hospital morgue, with a post-mortem conducted at the Contai Sub-divisional Hospital on Monday morning. The actor’s body reached his Bijoygarh home on Monday afternoon, and was subsequently taken for cremation in keeping with his family’s wishes. Investigators have begun questioning crew members about the incident, shoot permissions and safety protocols – raising concerns about a lack of precautions.

Banerjee is survived by his wife, actor Priyanka Sarkar, their son, Shohoj, and Rahul’s parents. In a statement shared on social media, Priyanka requested privacy for the family, describing it as a time of “immense grief and deep despair,” and urging media and well-wishers to allow them the dignity to mourn in peace.

Preliminary postmortem findings indicate large amounts of sand and saltwater in Rahul’s lungs, suggesting a prolonged struggle followed by drowning

Rahul, known for his love for the stage, last acted in Je Janlagulor Akash Chilo, a play written by him, on March 22. In the play, his character Tubai dies at the end on a seashore in South Africa. Fans took notice of this and couldn’t help but mourn the loss.

Two conflicting accounts have emerged around Rahul’s death, deepening uncertainty over what transpired.

The first version, from the production team, says Rahul was filming a honeymoon sequence with Sweta Mishra in the water when the latter exited the sea as the waves were too strong for her liking. Rahul then allegedly went alone into deeper waters for a solo drone shot, lost footing, and began struggling. He was reportedly rescued and rushed to hospital, with initial suspicions of a cardiac episode.

According to the other version, the incident occurred after pack-up, when Banerjee went on a boat ride with crew members, felt unwell, fell into the water, and was reportedly rescued around two and a half hours later, before being taken to hospital.

The contradictions have intensified calls for clarity and accountability. Adding to the confusion, Leena Gangopadhyay from the show’s production house has reportedly said no scene in the script required a shot in the sea.

A senior district police official said, “Findings indicate he remained underwater for a prolonged period before being rescued.”

Some reports claim the unit had no permission to shoot there while a local lifeguard was quoted by a TV channel as saying they had repeatedly asked the actors and the crew not to venture into the water but they did not listen. Allegedly, Sweta was the one who got stuck in the water first, and Rahul tried to save her – post which he lost his balance, was dragged deeper into the sea, and struggled to stay afloat. The locals say they had no prior information about the shoot and reportedly no safety precautions were taken.

Actor Sreelekha Mitra, in a post with Dipanjan ‘Jack’ Bhattacharya, raised a series of questions following Rahul’s death. She questioned conflicting claims over whether Banerjee was rescued immediately or after a delay, and how no bystander intervened on a crowded beach. She also flagged the alleged lack of official shooting permission, and the absence of basic safety measures such as lifeguards, swimmers or medical personnel. Mitra further asked whether timely medical attention could have saved him, noting he was reportedly alive en route to hospital, and challenged attempts to dismiss the incident as a “sudden accident,” calling for accountability.

I wrapped up the shoot with Rahul at around 3pm and returned to the hotel for lunch before leaving for Kolkata. Later, I received a call informing me that Rahul had died due to drowning. I was perplexed to learn that a shot was being taken with him alone in the middle of the sea. According to the script, it was meant to be a simple honeymoon sequence featuring both actors – set in ankle-deep water, with a light, playful tone, splashing water at each other. The scene involved the wife hiding and the husband searching for her – a routine moment in a TV serial. The circumstances under which it escalated beyond that remains a deeply concerning mystery. Also, for a shoot in the water, there should have been a proper safety team on site.

We are investigating what happened that day, although no formal complaint has been lodged by the family yet

– Angshuman Saha, East Midnapore SP

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Nirlojjota (shamlessness) is a major quality in an actor. Gobindobhog chal er gondho taa ter paawa jaay… taar pechhone chashir ghaam taa ter paawa jaayna. We had to work extremely hard. It wasn’t really that much fun

– Rahul to CT in 2025 on working in Academy of Fine Arts

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We’ve informed West Bengal Motion Picture Artists’ Forum about the matter and are seeking answers. I’ve personally reached out to members of the executive committee whose contact details I had

–Sudipta Chakraborty on Rahul’s demise

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Shohoj & my relationship is a two-way street – we give and take knowledge equally. A few years ago, he had asked me, “Baba, my friends are scared of their dads, but I’m not scared of you! Eta ki thik hocche?” My only response to this is that I’ve never told my son to ‘man up’

– Rahul to CT during a Father’s Day special shoot in 2025 with Shohoj