The mysterious death of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee continues to cast a long shadow over Tollywood, but now, it is actress Rajannya Mitra’s deeply personal reaction that has come into sharp focus. 

Having shot with Banerjee just hours before his untimely demise in Talsari, Mitra is now battling severe emotional trauma, forcing her to step away from the television serial 'Bhole Baba Par Karega'.

“From the moment I heard about the accident, I haven’t been able to return to normal,” the actress said, her voice reflecting the shock that still lingers days after the incident.

Mitra said that March 29 began like any other working day on set. She was shooting alongside Banerjee in Talsari, with no indication of the tragedy that would unfold later.

After packing up, while she was on her way back, news of her co-actor’s death reached her. The information hit her like a bolt, and since then, she has struggled to regain emotional balance.

Sources close to the production reveal that Mitra has been “mentally shattered” ever since. The emotional distress soon took a physical toll, with her health deteriorating to the point where she had to seek medical attention.

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In this fragile state, continuing with the demands of daily shooting became impossible, prompting her to take the difficult decision to step away from the project.

Her exit comes shortly after actor Ambarish Bhattacharya also withdrew from the same serial, adding to the growing unease within the industry.

However, Mitra’s case stands out due to her proximity to Banerjee in his final hours, making her reaction particularly poignant.

Despite the circumstances, Mitra has emphasised that her decision is not a permanent withdrawal from work.

She remains committed to her profession and has assured that she will return to the camera once she regains mental stability and the situation normalises.

The incident has also reignited concerns over safety protocols on shooting floors.

Addressing the issue, Mitra adopted a balanced stance. While she strongly called for a full and impartial investigation into Rahul’s death, she also stood firmly by her long-time production house, Magic Moments, where she has worked for over a decade.

“In 11 years, I have never seen any negligence from Magic Moments. They respect artists,” she said, referring to the company run by Leena Gangopadhyay and Shaibal Banerjee.

At the same time, the actress acknowledged that the exact sequence of events leading to Banerjee’s death remains unclear even to those present during the shoot.

Describing the day as a “fateful afternoon,” she admitted that there is still considerable confusion about what truly transpired.

Mitra stressed that if any lapse on the part of the production house or any other entity is found, it must be established through a fair and transparent investigation.

She cautioned against indulging in blame games, asserting that a neutral probe would be the only meaningful way to honour Banerjee’s memory.

Extending her support to the ongoing movement by the Artists’ Forum, Mitra expressed hope that the truth behind the incident will come to light soon.

For her, and for many in the industry, ‘Justice for Rahul’ remains the ultimate priority, even as the emotional scars of that day continue to run deep.