Rahul Arunoday Banerjee death: No doctor at clinic, says production house
The production company, Moments Motion Pictures, issued an official statement over the death of Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee. The statement claimed that those present at the site had attempted to save the actor, whose death has raised concerns over actors' safety on the sets.
Bengali actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died on Sunday, March 29, in a boating accident at Talsari beach. The production house, Moments Motion Pictures, in its statement, reportedly mentioned that those present at the site had attempted to save the actor, whose death has raised concerns over actors' safety on the sets.
Banerjee drowned during the shoot of the Bengali television show Bhole Baba Paar Karega. "Rahul was alive when he was taken out of the water and tried to communicate (sic)," according to the statement by Moments Motion Pictures, as quoted by The Telegraph.
"He may not have been able to speak clearly. He was then taken to a nearby clinic. Unfortunately, no doctor was available at the facility then. As a result, he had to be transported again to Digha Hospital, where he was ultimately declared dead (sic)," the statement added.
Moments Motion Pictures seeks time to gather information
The production company requested a few days' time to gather the accounts of cast and crew in a "neutral and structured manner."
"We request another few days to gather their (cast and crew) accounts in a neutral and structured manner. We intend to carefully assess where their statements align and where there may be deviations, so that we can present a comprehensive and accurate report," the statement highlighted.
Production company confirms full legal compliance
"We welcome the presence of a nominated representative from Rahul’s family, friends, or the Artists’ Forum. This individual can observe our process and help ensure our data collection and interpretations remain fair and unbiased," the statement went on. The company representatives assured they were prepared to answer any questions the actor’s family including his wife, Priyanka Sarkar, who is also an actor, may have.
The production company claimed that they had obtained the necessary legal clearances before the shoot and were prepared to provide them to the investigating team.
The statement also revealed that Leena Gangopadhyay, a creative head in the company who is also chairperson of the West Bengal Women’s Commission, was willing to step down for an impartial probe into the 43-year-old actor’s death.
"Leena has been associated with the company since 2010 as a writer and creative head. She joined the board in 2011. However, she isn’t a promoter or operational executive. Her role has always been limited to creative responsibilities," the statement added.
West Bengal Women's Commission head ready to step down
"We understand these assumptions may arise because of Leena’s role as chairperson of the West Bengal Women’s Commission. Keeping this in mind, Leena is willing to step down from her position as chairperson so that no perception of bias affects Rahul’s investigation and so that she doesn’t relinquish her responsibilities in the matter," the statement concluded.
On the personal front, Rahul married Priyanka Sarkar, his co-star in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar. The couple married and have a son named Shohoj. They separated in 2017 but reunited in 2023.
On March 30, Priyanka had appealed for privacy and respect for their family's grief during this difficult time.