Kolkata, April 5 (NationPress) The Bengali film and television sector is set to halt all serial and film productions for an indefinite duration starting April 7, in response to the untimely demise of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee. This action aims to advocate for enhanced safety measures for performers.

This decision was made following a gathering of the West Bengal Artist's Forum at the Technicians Studio on Sunday.

Artists from the Tollywood film industry took to the streets on Saturday afternoon to express their outrage over the tragic passing of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, who lost his life on March 29 while filming a Bengali serial at Talsari beach in Odisha.

An FIR was lodged at the Regent Park police station in Kolkata by the West Bengal Artist Forum against the production house responsible for the shoot on the same day.

Additionally, Rahul's wife and actress Priyanka Sarkar filed an FIR at Talsari police station late Saturday night.

On Sunday evening, artists united once more to show their support for Rahul Arunoday Banerjee's family.

Notable actors such as Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rituparna Sengupta, Shantilal Mukherjee, Anjana Basu, Jishu Sengupta, Rupanjana Mitra, and Bidipta Chakraborty were present at the Sunday meeting.

During the meeting, Shantilal Mukherjee of the Artist's Forum announced the indefinite halt on shooting. He stated, "Yesterday, we filed an FIR at the Regent Park police station on behalf of the Artist's Forum. We stand united with Rahul Arunoday Banerjee's family now and always."

The decision to pause filming was reached collectively by the forum's 4,000 members, alongside 7,000 technicians and all crew members.

Shantilal Mukherjee emphasized, "This movement is essential for our safety and the preservation of our lives. We face uncertainty each time we go out to shoot. Rahul Arunoday Banerjee's legacy inspires us, and thus we shall initiate this strike from Tuesday morning."

Swarup Biswas, representing the federation, expressed, "We did not wish for this, yet no one is stepping up to accept responsibility. Artists and crew often undertake perilous journeys for filming, whether it be rivers, seas, or mountains. Everyone perseveres despite the risks, striving to maintain the industry that supports millions."

Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee echoed similar sentiments, stressing the necessity for security measures during shoots. "Artists, crew, and everyone involved must have guaranteed protection on set. The fear stemming from this incident is palpable," he remarked.

Moving forward, there is a call for the presence of ambulances at all filming locations.

Inspired by the incident involving Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, the artists and crew have articulated these demands. In addition to seeking justice for the actor's death, they are advocating for their own security.

Actress Rituparna Sengupta stated, "Rahul Arunoday Banerjee has departed from us. Our fight will continue until justice is served. The manner of his departure raises the critical question, 'Are we truly safe?' The entire industry has united to initiate this strike."

Members of the Artist's Forum and Federation will gather at the Technicians Studio at 10 a.m. on Tuesday to commence the strike.

Director Kaushik Gangopadhyay encouraged all producers, directors, artists, and crew to gather that morning, noting, "Accidents are unpredictable. However, we must establish rules to safeguard the dignity of artists and their families."

It is important to note that all film and television serial shoots will cease starting Tuesday.

On March 29, the 42-year-old actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee was filming for the television series 'Bhole Baba Paar Karega'. He was swept away by a sudden tide while entering the water at Talsari, although technicians managed to retrieve him.

Preliminary reports indicate that Rahul Arunoday Banerjee's tragic death was a result of drowning, prompting the registration of an unnatural death case at the Digha Police Station.

This unfortunate event has brought the entire Bengali film and television industry to a halt.

Colleagues, directors, and technicians have expressed their shock and sorrow over the actor's sudden passing. He is survived by his mother, his wife Priyanka Sarkar, and their 13-year-old son.

Some actors within the Bengali film and television sector are calling for a thorough and unbiased investigation into his death.

Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, known for his character roles in the Bengali television industry, had been a prominent figure in television serials for years.

He gained recognition for his performance in the hit film 'Chirodini tumi je amar' in 2008 and continued to star in successful productions including 'Tumi asbe bole' (2014), 'Zulfiqar' (2016), 'Byomkesh Gotro' (2018), 'Biday Byomkesh' (2018), 'The Academy of Fine Arts' (2025), among others. His television credits include 'Hargouri Pice Hotel' and 'Mohonna'.