Jaya mourns Rahul’s death, shares emotional post on Facebook

The sudden death of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee has cast a deep shadow of grief over the Tollywood industry, after the actor drowned at Talsari Beach in Digha during a shoot.

Colleagues remember him not only as a popular actor but also as a warm and close-hearted person. His passing has sent shockwaves through the artistic community and saddened audiences across the region.

Actress Jaya Ahsan, who regularly works in Tollywood and had shared screen space with Rahul, expressed her grief in a Facebook post on Monday evening. “Rahul Arunoday—an intensely absorbed soul, a unique artiste now in eternal sleep. It is simply unimaginable,” she wrote.

Recalling their collaboration, Jaya added, “ ‘Jhora palok’ was the first and last project we worked on together. Arunoday portrayed poet Jibanananda Das. There may not have been a physical resemblance, but acting alongside him felt like a seamless flow of Jibanananda’s poetry was running through his soul.”

She further noted that his depth as an artiste had deeply impressed her. “In his acting, words, ideals, and writing, Arunoday was unadorned, tender, clear, and timeless. Today, I want to remember that Arunoday in every moment,” she wrote.

In the same post, addressing Rahul’s wife, actress Priyanka Sarkar, Jaya added, “Priyanka, you are synonymous with strength—stay steady through this storm, and take care of Shohoj. Arunoday, you will be remembered forever.”

Following the incident on Sunday, Rahul was first taken to Digha State General Hospital before being transferred to the morgue at Tamralipta Government Medical College and Hospital. An autopsy began around 11:30 am on Monday.

According to Indian media reports citing hospital sources, the initial post-mortem found clear signs of death by drowning. Doctors reported a large amount of sand and saltwater in his lungs and esophagus, with sand particles also present in the airway—an indication of prolonged submersion.

The autopsy further revealed that his lungs were abnormally swollen, nearly doubling in size. Medical experts said the entry of water and sand particles severely damaged the air sacs, preventing oxygen exchange—one of the key indicators of drowning.

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Hospital sources added that the extent of sand and saltwater found suggests the actor may have remained underwater for a significant period, possibly over an hour. No major external injuries were detected, indicating the incident was likely an accidental drowning.