Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, a prominent actor in the Bengali cinema, died on Sunday at the age of 44, leaving the country in shock. After finishing his lunch, while shooting, he headed to visit Talsari beach. However, he never came back. Preliminary reports confirmed that the actor died of drowning. Here's more about the late actor who died a tragic and unfortunate death
Updated On: 2026-03-30 12:50 PM IST
Compiled by : Amarylisa Gonsalves
Rahul Arunoday Banerjee was born in Calcutta, West Bengal, India on 16 October 1983. He belonged to a family of theatre artists. His father was a director of a theatre troupe named Bijoygor Atmaprakash.
Banerjee attended Naktala High School and graduated from Ashutosh College, after which he did a number of theatre programmes before stepping into roles.
He made his first stage appearance at the age of three with his father's theatre troupe Bijoygarh Atmaprakash play entitled Raj Darshan. Thereafter, he acted in almost 450 stage shows, with his father's troupe and with Theatron.
He stepped into television and gained fame through the Zee Bangla show titled Khela, where he played Aditya.
He made his film debut in 1995, but shot to fame with his performance in the superhit Bengali film, Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, in 2008.
He fell in love with his co-star Priyanka Sarkar on the sets of Chirodini Tumi Je Amar. After a long relationship, they tied the knot. They also have a son together.
Their marriage hit rock bottom and the couple separated in 2017. However, they later re-united in 2023.
After the success and fame of Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, Rahul signed several other films such as Ankash Talaash, Pratidwandi, Kagojer Bou, Hoi Choi, Meghe Dhaka Tara, Byomkesh Phire Elo, Abar Kanchanjungha and many more.
His television portfolio features shows like Mohona, Tumi Ashbe Bole, Swapno Udaan, Laalkuthi, Horogouri Pice Hotel, Geeta LL.B and the ongoing show Bhole Baba Par Kare Ga.
Additionally, he was also seen in web series like Seven, Indubala Bhaater Hotel, Byomkesh Series, Durgo Rawhoshyo, Feludar Goyendagiri, Paap, Kaali, and Thakumar Jhuli among others.
In December 2025, Rahul's latest film, Autobi, was announced. He was signed to play the role of Shamik, the guide of the jungle, in the psychological thriller. However, after his death, the fate of the film is unknown.
Rahul was shooting for his show Bholebaba Paar Karega, when he decided to step aside to visit Talsari beach nearby on March 29. The show's technicians spotted him drowning and rushed to rescue him. They took him to Dighe hospital, where he was declared dead.
