Rahul Arunoday Banerjee dies at 43 after drowning in Digha; wife Priyanka Sarkar asks for dignity and privacy in first statement

Popular Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died on Sunday (March 29) following an accidental drowning at Talsari in Digha, near the Odisha–West Bengal border. He was 43.His wife, Priyanka Sarkar, shared a statement on Instagram, requesting privacy as the family deals with the loss.“This is a time of immense grief and deep despair for us. In this difficult moment, we sincerely request space and privacy,” she wrote. “There is a child, a mother, a family, and loved ones trying to navigate this loss together. We kindly urge our friends and colleagues in the media to respect our boundaries, refrain from intrusion, and allow us the dignity to grieve in peace. Your understanding and support mean more than ever at this time,” she added.Rahul and Priyanka had married in 2010, separated in 2017, and later reconciled in 2023 as they continued to raise their son, Shohoj together.The actor had travelled for the shoot of his television show Bholebaba Paar Karega, which had been underway since Sunday morning.According to preliminary information, the incident took place after pack-up in the afternoon. Rahul reportedly entered the sea alone and soon went missing, causing panic among members of the production unit.Crew members and technicians managed to pull him out of the water and rushed him to Digha Sub-divisional Hospital, around 10–12 km from Talsari beach. He was declared dead at 6:10 pm, with initial reports pointing to drowning as the cause.A video of Rahul from the sets of the show has surfaced online and is being widely shared. The clip shows the actor preparing for a shot with a co-actor near a car, surrounded by onlookers, capturing moments before the tragedy. Rahul’s co-actor Diganta Bagchi told PTI, “After today's shoot, he went alone to the water but somehow got entangled in something under the water... The exact circumstances are not clear. Suddenly, people, including crew members, were shouting that Rahul was drowning and we pulled him out of the water. We rushed him to Digha hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.”West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed grief over the actor’s demise, saying, “I am shocked, deeply saddened to hear the news that the distinguished, young, and popular actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee is suddenly no longer among us. I am unable to comprehend what exactly happened. He was one of my favourite actors and a person I truly admired. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family, loved ones, and countless admirers.”“Rahul's sudden passing is an irreparable loss to the Bengali entertainment industry,” she added.Filmmaker Raj Chakraborty, who directed Rahul in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, said he was in shock upon hearing the news, while actor-director Anjan Dutta also expressed grief.Rahul Arunoday Banerjee was known for films like Zulfiqar, Byomkesh Gotro and Biday Byomkesh, along with popular television shows including Hargouri Pice Hotel and Mohona.