The makers of Bengali TV serial Bhole Baba Par Karega issued a statement following the tragic death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, expressing their grief and assuring a transparent investigation into the incident. Banerjee, 43, died on March 29 after he drowned during a shooting at Talsari beach in Odisha’s Baleswar district.
The makers of Bengali TV serial Bhole Baba Par Karega issued a statement following the tragic death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, expressing their grief and assuring a transparent investigation into the incident.Banerjee, 43, died on March 29 after he drowned during a shooting at Talsari beach in Odisha’s Baleswar district.According to PTI, the production house said in its statement: “All members of the cast and crew are in deep mourning.”They added: “We ask for a few days to collect the accounts of the cast and crew who were present at the time of the tragedy, in an impartial and organized manner, so that we can provide a comprehensive and accurate report.”The producers have also invited the actor’s family and industry bodies to be part of the investigation process.“We welcome a representative nominated by the actor’s family, friends or the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists Forum to monitor the process and ensure justice,” the statement read.
“He was rescued alive…the reports are most likely incorrect.”
In tackling the sequence of events, the filmmakers shared preliminary findings while also confronting some of the media’s allegations.
They added, “Initial information indicates that Rahul was rescued alive from the water and was trying to communicate.”“He was first taken to a nearby clinic in Talsari where there was no doctor and was later shifted to Digha State General Hospital, where he was declared brought dead.”Refuting some reports, the statement added, “Allegations that the actor remained underwater for an extended period are most likely untrue.”
“No possibility of negligence will go unexamined.”
The production house stressed that a comprehensive investigation will be conducted into all aspects of the incident.“All relevant warrants, communications with authorities and documents will be provided as part of the ongoing investigation,” they said.“Any possibility of negligence, no matter how small, will not be examined.”They also pointed out that director Saibal Banerjee, who was in Mumbai at the time, rushed to Kolkata on hearing the news and visited the actor’s residence the same night.Describing Rahul as “not only our colleague but also our friend”, the makers said they remain committed to fully cooperating with the authorities and will share the filming footage and official records with the family, provided necessary permissions are obtained.
Forum raises concerns about safety measures
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists Forum has raised concerns over the circumstances surrounding the incident.“It is important to understand exactly what happened during filming and whether appropriate safety measures were taken,” the forum said in its statement.The authority added that it is closely monitoring developments and expects a comprehensive and impartial investigation to be conducted, stressing that the safety and security of artists on filming sites must remain a top priority.Banerjee’s death sent shockwaves throughout the Bengali entertainment industry, with colleagues and fans mourning the loss of the actor, who is survived by his wife Priyanka Sarkar and their son.