Bengali film, TV industry begins indefinite strike; Actors protest Rahul Arunoday Banerjee’s death on set

Actors and technicians in the Bengali film and television industry on Tuesday began an indefinite strike to protest the death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, who died during a shoot at Odisha's Talsari beach recently. The forum is pressing for improved safety measures on sets.Film studio Bharat Lakshmi Studio on Prince Anwar Shah Road in south Kolkata wore a deserted look on Tuesday morning, with shooting floors locked and no technical activity underway. The security guards were seen discussing when the shooting would start.There were no lights, no cameras, no action, and with technicians staying away, directors were unable to resume work and stood in solidarity with the bereaved family.Later in the day, actors and technicians were expected to assemble at the studio to participate in the protest and extend moral support. Artists above 70 years of age have been exempted from participation, though several were likely to be present.Rahul Arunoday Banerjee's wife and actress Priyanka Sarkar will also participate in the strike later in the day. Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee, actress Rituparna Sengupta, and others are likely to be present. Superstar Dev and Federation President Swarup Biswas will also be present.On March 29, the 42-year-old actor, while shooting for a television series 'Bhole Baba Paar Karega', died after he entered the water at Talsari beach, just as the tide came in. The incident has brought the Bengali film and television industry to a standstill. Fellow actors, directors, and technicians have expressed shock at the tragic death of the actor, who is survived by his mother, his wife, actor Priyanka Sarkar, and a 13-year-old son.A section of artists has demanded a comprehensive and impartial probe into the incident and called for mandatory safety arrangements, including the presence of an ambulance at every shooting location.The late actor's wife, Priyanka Sarkar, has filed a complaint at the Regent Park police station in Kolkata and the Talsari police station in Odisha. She has filed an FIR against five people from the production company 'Magic Moments', which was responsible for shooting at Talsari beach.Rahul, known in the Bengali television industry for his character roles, had been active in soaps for several years.He shot to fame with his role in the blockbuster 'Chirodini tumi je amar' in 2008, followed by hits such as 'Tumi asbe bole' (2014), 'Zulfiqar' (2016), 'Byomkesh Gotro' (2018), 'Biday Byomkesh' (2018), 'The Academy of Fine Arts' (2025), among others. He had acted in TV serials such as 'Hargouri pice hotel' and 'Mohonna'.