Pratyusha Banerjee’s Father Gave Her Alcohol, Their Bond Was Strained: Rahul Raj

In a fresh interview, Rahul Raj Singh claimed Pratyusha Banerjee's father gave her alcohol and their bond turned volatile when drunk, further blaming strained family ties for her emotional struggles.

Pratyusha Banerjee was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on April 1, 2016.

Source : Instagram/@iamprats

Nearly a decade after television actress Pratyusha Banerjee’s tragic death in 2016, her former boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh has once again stepped into the spotlight with a series of startling claims about her personal life, including battles with alcohol, a turbulent relationship with her parents, and professional disappointments that took a toll on her mental health.

"Pratyusha Banerjee's father used to give her alcohol"

In a recent interview with Bollywood Bubble, Rahul reflected on the late Balika Vadhu star’s alleged emotional struggles. He claimed Pratyusha had been consuming alcohol long before their relationship began. “She had been drinking long before I came into her life. Her father used to give her alcohol,” he alleged.

Rahul recalled discouraging her from drinking, citing its potential impact on their lives and careers. “When we got together, since we’re actors and have to maintain our appearance, I told her that if she kept drinking like this, it would eventually lead to a disaster… I told her clearly that if she kept alcohol in front of me, I might start drinking too, so we had to control it,” he said.

Pratyusha and her father's strained relationship

He also spoke about the rocky dynamic between Pratyusha and her father, claiming their bond often soured under the influence of alcohol. “Especially after Balika Vadhu ended, her relationship with her father became complicated—they were very friendly when sober, but after drinking, her father would become aggressive, and they’d end up fighting,” he added.

Trying to help her overcome her habits, Rahul said he encouraged her to keep a journal as a way to bring routine and moderation into her life. “I used to tell her to write things like ‘Today you are not supposed to drink early in the morning.’ I also wrote in it about our daily agenda, especially the non-work habits we needed to change,” he said.

Pratyusha's struggle professionaly

According to him, he even brought lyricist Amit Khan on board to help Pratyusha bounce back professionally. “I even told Danish, ‘Watch this show—I’m doing this for her because I want her to make a strong comeback like in Balika Vadhu… Maybe this will be her last big show.’”

But despite her early success, Rahul said Pratyusha found it hard to regain momentum. Several of her projects post-Balika Vadhu, failed to take off. She was reportedly struggling to secure work, and her finances were under strain. “Sphere Origins didn’t repeat her, nor did DJ’s. Everywhere she faced issues,” he said, pointing to production house fallouts and pending payments that exacerbated her frustrations.

“She hadn’t left Balika Vadhu on a good note either… there were creative differences with the team, too much interference from her side, they said. And then there was a payment issue with DJs. Her payment had been stuck for six months, so maybe that led to more problems,” Rahul claimed, adding that the burden of financial responsibility on her shoulders only intensified the pressure.

Reports at the time of her death had indicated that Pratyusha was in deep financial distress. Police also found multiple liquor bottles and beer cans at her home. It was said she was struggling to repay a car loan as well.

Pratyusha Banerjee 's death and case against Rahul Raj Singh

Pratyusha Banerjee was found dead in her Mumbai apartment on April 1, 2016. Her passing was ruled a suicide, prompting her parents to file a complaint against Rahul. He was later booked under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 504, 506, and 323, but secured anticipatory bail in July that year.

Rahul's reputation came under severe scrutiny following the incident, with multiple members of the television fraternity accusing him of emotionally and physically abusing her. He was also accused of defrauding women under the guise of producing films. While Rahul maintained that Pratyusha had a drinking problem, other reports surfaced revealing she had undergone an abortion just two months before her death—a decision Rahul described as mutual.

In his defense, Rahul submitted a discharge plea, claiming he was falsely implicated due to a personal vendetta. However, in 2023, the Mumbai sessions court rejected his plea. Judge SJ Ansari noted: “She had expressed her desire not to live further on account of the same to her aunt Barnali Banerjee and the tarot card reader. The pitiable condition to which the deceased had been reduced to by the accused can scarcely be imagined.”