‘We rushed, but he….’: Director recounts Rahul Arunoday Banerjee’s last moments

Kolkata: A day after actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee’s tragic death at Talsari beach, the director of his ongoing television project has shared a detailed account of the final moments leading up to the incident.

Director Subhashis Mondal, who was present at the location, described how what began as a routine shot quickly turned into a life-threatening situation.

“We had shot here the previous day as well. On Sunday, there was a scene at Talsari where Rahul da and Sweta were standing in ankle-deep water, playfully splashing and interacting with each other. We were filming the sequence from behind,” Mondal said, speaking to journalist Tathagata Sengupta.

According to him, the situation escalated when the actors moved further into the sea as part of the shot.

“While performing, Rahul da held Sweta’s hand and started moving toward deeper water. Soon, the water level reached their knees, and suddenly he appeared to lose balance,” the director said.

Sensing danger, the crew immediately intervened.

“We shouted at them to come back, but within moments, the water rose to his neck. He was clearly struggling and appeared to be gasping. We realised the situation was serious and rushed toward him,” Mondal added.

He said around 10 to 12 crew members ran into the water in an attempt to rescue the actor, but the situation deteriorated rapidly.

“It all happened within seconds. He began to drown and went under. He may have already swallowed a lot of water,” he said.

Mondal further revealed that nearby fishermen and boats assisted in the rescue effort.

“Ropes were thrown from nearby boats, and we somehow managed to pull him out. At that point, he was still conscious,” he said.

The 43-year old actor was immediately rushed to Digha Sub-Divisional Hospital by car. However, doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

The director’s account has added clarity to the sequence of events, underlining how quickly the situation spiralled during what was meant to be a simple beachside shoot.