The Tollywood film and television fraternity took to the streets in a massive show of solidarity on April 4, 2026, demanding a transparent investigation into the tragic death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee.
The silent protest march, which saw participation from top stars and technicians, followed the filing of a ‘Zero FIR’ against the directors of Magic Moments Motion Pictures, Saibal Banerjee and Leena Gangopadhyay.
The 42-year-old actor, best known for his breakout role in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, tragically drowned on March 29 during an outdoor shoot for the television series Bholebaba Paar Karega at Talsari beach near the West Bengal-Odisha border. While initial reports suggested an accidental drowning after the shoot had wrapped, the West Bengal Motion Pictures Artists’ Forum has alleged gross negligence and a failure to follow safety protocols on set.
The March for Justice
The protest began around 5:20 PM, moving from Technician Studios to Radha Studios in Tollygunge. Leading the march were several prominent figures, including:
- Actors: Ritwick Chakraborty, Gaurav Chakraborty, June Maliah, Anirban Chakraborty, and Rishi Kaushik.
- Directors & Singers: Arindam Sil, Aparna Sen, Srijit Mukherjee, and Lagnajita Chakraborty.
- Family: Rahul’s wife, actress Priyanka Sarkar, joined the forum members at the police station to seek answers regarding the circumstances of her husband’s death.
The Legal Battle: Zero FIR
The West Bengal Motion Pictures Artists’ Forum, represented by General Secretary Santilal Mukherjee, filed the complaint at the Regent Park police station. Key developments include:
- Unsatisfactory Response: The forum stated that a clarification sought from the production house on April 1 was met with an “inadequate” reply on April 2.
- Negligence Allegations: The FIR accuses the producers of conducting the shoot in a manner that endangered human lives.
- Jurisdiction: As a Zero FIR, the case will be transferred to the Talsari Marine Police Station in Odisha, where the incident occurred, for further formal investigation.
The industry continues to mourn the loss of an actor described by many as “ahead of his time,” while simultaneously pushing for stricter safety regulations to ensure such a tragedy never recurs on a film set.