Rahul Banerjee’s wife is Priyanka Sarkar, the Bengali actress who co-starred with him in the 2008 blockbuster Chirodini Tumi Je Amar and married him two years later. The couple share a son named Shohoj, separated in 2017 amid a bitter legal dispute, and reconciled in 2023 after withdrawing their divorce petition. On March 29, 2026, Rahul Arunoday Banerjee drowned at Talsari beach in Odisha at age 43 while filming a television serial, leaving Priyanka and 13-year-old Shohoj behind.
Their relationship traced the full arc from on-set romance to public separation to quiet reunion to sudden tragedy. Priyanka Sarkar described the loss as a time of “immense grief and deep despair” in her first statement after Rahul’s death.
Who Is Priyanka Sarkar, Rahul Banerjee’s Wife?
Rahul Banerjee’s wife, Priyanka Sarkar, is a Bengali film and television actress born on December 31, 1990, in Kolkata, West Bengal. She started acting at age 12, appearing in Bengali television serials like Swapner Rong Nil, Aastha, and Khela before landing her first film role in Dadar Adesh (2005) alongside superstar Prasenjit Chatterjee.
Career Breakthrough and Major Films
Her breakout came with Chirodini Tumi Je Amar (2008), directed by Raj Chakraborty. The film became one of the biggest hits in Bengali cinema history and turned both Priyanka and co-star Rahul Banerjee into household names overnight. She has since built a filmography that includes Hemlock Society (2012), The Royal Bengal Tiger (2014), Rajkahini (2015), Byomkesh O Chiriyakhana (2016), Chaamp (2017), and Bornoporichoy (2019).
On the digital side, Priyanka has appeared in Hoichoi web series including Hello! (2017-2021) and Mahabharat Murders (2022). She completed her education at Orient Day School and holds a B.Com degree from Heramba Chandra College.
| Film | Year | Role/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chirodini Tumi Je Amar | 2008 | Breakout role opposite Rahul Banerjee |
| The Royal Bengal Tiger | 2014 | Major commercial release |
| Rajkahini | 2015 | Critically acclaimed period drama |
| Byomkesh O Chiriyakhana | 2016 | Popular mystery thriller |
| Chaamp | 2017 | Sports drama |
| Bornoporichoy | 2019 | Neo-noir crime thriller |
How Rahul Banerjee and Priyanka Sarkar Met and Married
Rahul Banerjee and Priyanka Sarkar met on the set of Chirodini Tumi Je Amar in 2008 and married in 2010 after their on-screen chemistry turned into a real-life relationship. According to Hindustan Times, Rahul was the first to confess his feelings to Priyanka during production.
The Film That Started It All
Chirodini Tumi Je Amar was a remake of the 2004 Tamil film Kaadhal, directed by Raj Chakraborty in his Tollywood directorial debut. The film shattered box-office records for Bengali cinema and earned Rahul Banerjee the Anandalok Award for Best Actor. Priyanka was just 17 during filming and 20 when they married; Rahul, born October 16, 1983, was 27 at the time of the wedding.
Marriage and Son Shohoj
The couple married in 2010 in a ceremony that kept a relatively low profile by Tollywood standards. Three years later, in 2013, they welcomed their son Shohoj Banerjee. According to IMDB records, the family lived in Kolkata and both actors continued working actively through the early years of their marriage.
Rahul Banerjee’s Career Alongside Priyanka
Rahul Arunoday Banerjee carved out a prolific career of his own. Beyond Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, he appeared in Na Hannyate (2012), Byomkesh Phire Elo (2014), Zulfiqar (2016), Byomkesh Gotro (2018), and The Academy of Fine Arts (2025). He was also active in television with serials like Khela (2006-2008) and Horogouri Pice Hotel (2022-2025), and hosted a podcast called Sohoj Kotha. At the time of his death, he was filming the serial Bhole Baba Par Karega.
The Separation and Legal Battle (2017-2023)
Rahul Banerjee and Priyanka Sarkar separated in 2017 after seven years of marriage, entering a prolonged divorce process that lasted nearly five years. According to Times of India, the split involved custody disputes over Shohoj and a legal battle that became sustained Tollywood headline material.
Allegations and Public Fallout
Priyanka Sarkar reportedly alleged mental and physical torture during their marriage and filed for child support, claiming Rahul did not adequately provide for their son. According to Times Now (2026), the legal proceedings were described as “turbulent,” with Priyanka pushing for proper support while the divorce petition wound through the courts. Neither actor spoke extensively about the specifics in public, though Bengali entertainment media covered each development closely.
Reconciliation in 2023
Signs of a thaw appeared in 2022, when Rahul posted a family photo on social media with the caption “New Beginning.” By September 2023, the couple had formally withdrawn their divorce petition. According to The Daily Star, Rahul Banerjee confirmed to Anandabazar Patrika that they had resolved their differences and were planning to buy a flat in the same building to co-parent Shohoj under one roof.
The reconciliation was driven primarily by their son. Multiple reports confirmed that both Rahul and Priyanka made the decision to reunite so Shohoj could grow up with both parents present.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Met on set of Chirodini Tumi Je Amar |
| 2010 | Married in Kolkata |
| 2013 | Son Shohoj Banerjee born |
| 2017 | Separated; divorce petition filed |
| 2022 | Rahul posts family photo captioned “New Beginning” |
| 2023 | Divorce petition withdrawn; couple reconciles |
| March 29, 2026 | Rahul Banerjee dies at Talsari beach, aged 43 |
Rahul Banerjee’s Death and Priyanka Sarkar’s Response
Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died on March 29, 2026, after drowning in the sea at Talsari beach in Odisha while shooting for the Bengali television serial Bhole Baba Par Karega. According to Indian Express, he entered the water after the day’s shoot wrapped and was swept away by a large wave. Crew members pulled him out and rushed him to Digha Subdistrict Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. He was 43.
Priyanka Sarkar’s First Statement
Priyanka Sarkar shared a statement on Instagram within hours of the news breaking. “This is a time of immense grief and deep despair for us,” she wrote. “There is a child, a mother, a family, and loved ones trying to navigate this loss together.” She asked media and colleagues to “respect our boundaries, refrain from intrusion, and allow us the dignity to grieve in peace.”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called Rahul’s passing an “irreparable loss” to the Bengali entertainment industry. Director Raj Chakraborty, who cast him in his breakthrough role, said he was in a state of shock.
Community Reaction
News of Rahul Banerjee’s death spread rapidly across social media and online forums. On r/Kolkatacity — a Reddit community focused on life and culture in Kolkata — a post about his passing gathered 127 upvotes and 37 comments within hours, with users expressing shock and grief.
“Very suspicious death imo. Died at sea of drowning? Unless the waves were too harsh… one cannot simply drown at the sea. Was he alone? If there were other people around…”
— r/Kolkatacity, March 2026 (19 upvotes)
West Bengal Police have registered a case of unnatural death and are coordinating with Balasore Police in Odisha to investigate the exact sequence of events. An autopsy was scheduled at Digha hospital.
A separate post on r/BollywoodShaadis titled “Who is Rahul Arunoday Banerjee’s ex-wife, Priyanka Sarkar?” appeared the same day, reflecting how many people searched for “Rahul Banerjee wife” following the tragedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rahul Banerjee’s wife?
Rahul Banerjee’s wife is actress Priyanka Sarkar, born December 31, 1990, in Kolkata. They married in 2010 after meeting on the set of Chirodini Tumi Je Amar (2008) and have a son named Shohoj.
When did Rahul Banerjee and Priyanka Sarkar get married?
Rahul Banerjee and Priyanka Sarkar married in 2010 in Kolkata. She was 20 years old and he was 27 at the time of their wedding.
Do Rahul Banerjee and Priyanka Sarkar have children?
Yes. The couple has one son, Shohoj Banerjee, born in 2013. Shohoj was the primary reason behind their 2023 reconciliation after a five-year separation.
Why did Rahul Banerjee and Priyanka Sarkar separate?
The couple separated in 2017 after personal conflicts. Priyanka reportedly alleged mental and physical torture and filed for child support, claiming Rahul did not adequately support their son Shohoj. They reconciled in 2023 and withdrew the divorce petition.
How did Rahul Banerjee die?
Rahul Arunoday Banerjee died on March 29, 2026, at age 43 after drowning at Talsari beach in Odisha. He was filming the television serial Bhole Baba Par Karega when he was swept away by a wave. He was declared dead on arrival at Digha hospital.
A Legacy Cut Short
The story of Rahul Banerjee’s wife Priyanka Sarkar spans nearly two decades of Bengali cinema — from their first on-screen pairing as young actors in Chirodini Tumi Je Amar to their painful public separation and eventual reunion for the sake of their son. Rahul’s sudden death at 43 turned what had been a story of reconciliation into one of loss, leaving Priyanka and 13-year-old Shohoj to navigate life without the actor who had been Tollywood’s most recognizable leading man since 2008.
Priyanka Sarkar continues to work in Bengali film and television. Both actors built independent careers that stand on their own merit, but their intertwined personal story remains one of the most closely followed in Tollywood history.
