Actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee dies after drowning near Digha

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3 min readKolkataUpdated: Mar 29, 2026 10:41 PM IST

Popular Tollygunge actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee (42) died after reportedly drowning at Talsari beach near West Bengal’s Digha on Sunday. Banerjee had traveled to Talsari beach, located on the West Bengal-Odisha border, for a shoot. Reports suggest that the accident occurred in the evening after the shoot had concluded. Production unit members were reportedly present when the fatal accident occured. He was taken to Digha hospital where he was declared dead.

The actor was shooting for the TV serial Bhole Baba Par Karega. Apart from acting, Rahul was widely known for his podcast show, Sohoj Kotha.

“I am stunned, shocked, and deeply saddened to hear the news that the distinguished, young, and popular actor, Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, is suddenly no longer with us. I cannot comprehend how this happened. He was an actor and a person I liked very much. I extend my sincere condolences to his bereaved family, relatives, and countless fans. Rahul’s sudden departure is an irreparable loss for the acting world of Bengal, as well as for Tollywood and Telewood,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on her X handle.

According to sources, Rahul entered the water alone, with his co-star, Shweta Mishra, staying back on the shore. While the actor’s feet got reportedly stuck in the sand under water, a massive wave struck, pushing him off-balance. Mishra alerted the crew and Rahul was reportedly alive when he was rescued from the water.

He was taken to the Digha Sub-divisional Hospital, located about 10–12 km from Talsari beach. However, at 6:10 PM, doctors declared him dead.

The production manager of the serial, Chandrashekhar Chakraborty, accompanied the actor to the hospital. “The shoot had packed up by then. It was around 5:00 or 5:30 PM; there was no time to look at the watch. We were letting the artists go one by one. The cars for Ambarish-da (Bhattacharya) and Bhaskar-da (Chakraborty) had already left. That’s when I received the call and rushed to the beach,” he told media.

Rahul Arunoday Banerjee rose to fame with his iconic debut in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, where he starred alongside Priyanka Sarkar. The duo married in 2010 and had a son named Sohoj in 2013.

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After nearly seven years of marriage, the duo filed for a divorce in 2017. Beyond his acting career in films and television (Telewood), Rahul was highly regarded for his intellectual depth, showcased through his popular podcast, Sohoj Kotha.

Sweety Kumari is a seasoned journalist reporting from West Bengal for The Indian Express. With over a decade of experience in the media industry and eight years specifically with The Indian Express, she demonstrates considerable Expertise and Authority across a diverse range of critical beats.
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Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express, reporting from West Bengal.

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Sweety Kumari’s combination of significant experience, specialization in key beats like Crime and Politics, and strong academic background makes her a trusted and authoritative contributor to The Indian Express. … Read More