A pall of gloom has descended on Tollywood following the reported death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee. The 43-year-old actor is said to have drowned while shooting for a television serial in Talsari, near Digha, today (March 29).

According to Anandabazar and other initial reports, Rahul was filming for the serial “Bhole Baba Par Karega” when the incident occurred. He reportedly entered the water during the shoot and went under. Technicians on set later recovered him, but he is believed to have remained submerged for a significant period.

He was rushed to a hospital in Digha, where doctors are said to have declared him dead on arrival. Preliminary reports suggest drowning as the cause of death, although the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.

Actor Bhaskar Banerjee, who played Rahul’s on-screen uncle in the serial, confirmed that the entire unit had travelled to Talsari for the shoot. “It is a tragic incident. He died due to drowning. The incident took place after the pack-up, but we still do not know exactly how it happened,” he said.

Bhaskar added that the team had broken for lunch after filming, while Rahul had mentioned he would complete a few remaining shots. When he did not return for a long time, members of the crew went looking for him.

“It is shocking. We cannot believe that a fit and healthy man could pass away like this. It is beyond comprehension,” he said.

Further details are awaited as the industry mourns the untimely loss.

The actor was known for his performance in the projects like “Zulfiqar”, “Na Hannyate”, and Byomkesh Phire Elo” among many other remarkable roles in his career.