Priyanka Sarkar mourns Rahul Banerjee, calls for unity after tragedy

Priyanka Sarkar has shared an emotional message following the sudden death of her husband, Rahul Arunoday Banerjee, whose passing has shaken the Tollywood industry.

Rahul died on March 29 after drowning at sea during a shoot, triggering widespread concern over on-set safety and prompting protests and work stoppages across the industry.

Breaking her silence for the first time since the incident, Priyanka took to social media on April 7 to thank colleagues and well-wishers for their support. She described the collective response of the film fraternity as a powerful display of unity during a time of grief.

“An entire film family came together in one voice—bound by shared thoughts, emotions and immense love,” she wrote.

Emphasising the absence of divisions, she added, “There is no politics here, no personal conflict—only one truth: we are a family. This united stand comes from deep affection for one of our own.”

Priyanka also reflected on the many ways Rahul was loved—by some as an actor, by others as Arunoday, and by many as a writer—highlighting the breadth of his influence.

“A single death has bound our entire family together,” she wrote, while urging that his passing should not remain just a moment of grief but become a catalyst for meaningful change.

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She called for improved safety measures in the industry, stressing that no artiste or technician should have to fight for dignity after such tragedies. “Let this be the beginning of change,” she said, adding that ensuring such incidents do not recur should be the industry’s shared goal.