Kolkata: Tollywood is split over the role of Magic Moments Motion Pictures in the context of actor Rahul Banerjee’s demise while shooting in Talsari. While veteran actor Madhabi Mukhopadhyay is disturbed by the attacks levelled at Leena Gangopadhyay‘s “insensitivity”, actor Ambarish Bhattacharya has decided never to work with her production house.Mukhopadhyay, who worked in ‘Bhole Baba Par Karega’, told TOI that she, too, faced many accidents while shooting. “I was almost swept away by the undercurrent while shooting for ‘Dibaratrir Kabya’. Did I ever think of lodging an FIR against the production house? We are all moved by Rahul’s death. So is Leena. She is a writer and doesn’t even go to the sets. Is Leena’s success the reason behind the attack?” she asked. On Monday, Gangopadhyay’s son Arka took to social media to share his close relation with Rahul and expose many of the Justice For Rahul campaign front-liners.Bhattacharya, who spent the last two months shooting for the same serial with Rahul, said: “We shared a room, ate together, sang and read during the shoot in Talsari. I was shooting with Rahul till 3 pm that day. By evening, I heard he was no more. I was traumatised. I informed Prosenjit Chatterjee and told Magic Moments that I am quitting. I also resigned from another serial produced by the same company.” Bhattacharya said he can’t return to Movietone Studio and criticised the production house for lacking responsibility and sensitivity in its statements after the incident. “This is an accident. But since the serial was being made by this production house, it had to be more responsible while giving statements,” Bhattacharya said. Sohini Sengupta, who has worked in three serials produced by the same company, told TOI: “I am waiting for an empathetic and informed answer from the head of the production house about what happened in Rahul’s case.”Costume designer Suchismita Dasgupta, who has worked with Rahul, wants the production company to be penalised. “I am amazed at the farce created by the Federation. They are using this incident to point fingers at Leena Gangopadhyay. The Federation, which gives deadlines to meet their demands on the number of technicians to be taken for a project, didn’t check if safety protocols were followed here,” she said.Actor Tathagata Mukhopadhyay said, “He was my friend and I am in shock. I have worked with Magic Moments and have never faced a problem. The house follows the same procedures as others. But it has to take responsibility for why so many versions were circulated about such a sensitive matter.” He also said many are targeting the co-mpany to “settle old scores”.
