Tollywood has decided to introduce mandatory insurance for all films following the tragic death of actor Rahul Arunoday Banerjee.
Rahul, 43, died on March 29 after drowning while shooting for the television serial “Bholebaba Paar Karega”. The incident has raised serious concerns about safety standards on film and television sets.
In response, key stakeholders held a joint meeting in Tollygunge to review existing safety practices and propose new measures. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Eastern India Motion Pictures Association and the West Bengal Motion Picture Artists’ Forum, along with leading actors and producers.
Among those present were actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, producer Rana Sarkar, and actress Bidipta Chakraborty. Producer Shrikant Mohta joined the meeting virtually. The stakeholders agreed that all Bengali films will now be insured. The level of insurance cover will depend on the budget of each production. Industry representatives said the insurance will cover multiple aspects, including accidents on set.
Participants also discussed introducing a formal standard operating procedure (SOP) to improve discipline and safety during shoots. Issues such as alcohol consumption, smoking on set, and overall conduct were also raised. A written SOP is expected to be released soon.
Industry officials said Rahul’s death exposed gaps in safety management. They admitted that some practices had become unstructured over time and stressed the need for stricter organisation.
The accident took place during a shoot near a coastal location, where Rahul and co-actor Sweta Mishra were performing in shallow water. They reportedly slipped into a deeper ditch. Both were taken to hospital, but Rahul could not be saved.Police officials later said that the production team had not obtained permission to shoot at the location. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.Following the tragedy, Rahul’s wife, Priyanka Sarkar, requested privacy for the family as they cope with the loss. The industry hopes that these new measures will help prevent similar accidents in the future and ensure safer working conditions for all artists and crew members.
