In a heartbreaking turn of events, popular Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee passed away on Sunday evening after drowning in the sea at Talsari beach, Odisha. The 42-year-old actor was at the location for the shoot of his ongoing television serial, ‘Bhole Baba Par Karega’. The news of his sudden demise has left the entire Bengali film fraternity, especially director Raj Chakraborty, in a state of utter shock.

The incident occurred late Sunday afternoon. According to unit sources, filming had wrapped up for the day when Rahul entered the sea. It is reported that his feet got stuck in the quicksand, and a massive wave dragged him deeper into the water. Despite a quick rescue attempt by the crew and technicians, he was unconscious when pulled out. He was rushed to the Digha Sub-divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 6:10 PM. Preliminary reports suggest that he might have suffered a cardiac arrest due to the shock of drowning.

Director Raj Chakraborty, who gave Rahul his big break in the cult classic ‘Chirodini Tumi Je Amar’, was inconsolable. “I spoke with Birsa and Kaushik Ganguly; none of us can process this news,” Raj said. Rahul was widely respected not just as a powerhouse performer but also as a gifted writer and intellectual. He had recently reunited with his wife Priyanka Sarkar and was looking forward to a new chapter in his life with their son, Shohoj. The tragic end of such a promising life has left a void in the industry that can never be filled. His post-mortem is scheduled for Monday at Kanthi Hospital.