Popular Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died by drowning on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
DIGHA/KOLKATA: Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, a popular face in the film, OTT and television industry, died on Sunday while shooting for the series Bhole Baba Paar Karega near Talsari beach in Odisha, around 8 km from Digha.
Subhashis Mondal, director of the series, said, “The shoot had ended and most of the cast had left, but Rahul-da insisted on filming an unscripted drone shot. We were shooting honeymoon scenes with Rahul-da and Sweta Mishra in knee-deep water. The first take was completed, but Sweta felt uneasy after a small wave hit her and decided to step out. Rahul-da wanted a second take with him facing the camera and moved deeper into the water.”
“The entire team requested him to come out, but he didn’t listen. A bigger wave caused him to slip and swallow water. We immediately rushed to rescue him, and lifeguards also joined the operation. He responded twice while being taken to the hospital, but was declared dead on arrival,” Mondal added.
A senior doctor at Digha State General Hospital said, “He was brought to the hospital around 6.10 pm. He had already passed away by the time our doctors examined him.” Police from Digha coastal police station reached the hospital soon after receiving the information. “He was brought in a lifeless state,” an officer said.
Police have registered an unnatural death case and launched an investigation. “While primary evidence points towards a possible heart attack followed by drowning, the exact cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem. We are also examining whether safety protocols were followed during the shoot,” said a senior police officer in East Midnapore district. The body has been kept at Digha hospital morgue, and the post-mortem will be conducted at Contai Sub-divisional Hospital.
Rahul Arunoday Banerjee made his debut with Chirodini Tumi Je Amar (2009) and went on to act in several films and television serials, becoming a household name. He also ran a popular podcast channel Shohoj Kotha, named after his son.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed shock and grief over his death, calling it an “irreparable loss” to the Bengali entertainment industry. Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty and actor Sudipta Chakraborty also paid tribute, remembering him as a talented actor and a compassionate individual.
Known for his versatility, Rahul featured in films like Jackpot, Jaatishwar, Zulfiqar, and Chotushkone, and was widely appreciated for his role as Ajit in the Byomkesh series. He was equally at ease in ensemble films as well as experimental cinema, proving that his talent was not limited by genre or scale.
