Bengali actor Kharaj Mukherjee and his wife Protiva Mukherjee are stranded in flood-hit Nepal, but their family has confirmed that both are safe and out of danger.
Kharaj, known for his character roles in Bengali cinema and films such as Kahaani and Special 26, had travelled to Nepal for a film shoot. His son, Tamaghna Mukherjee, shared an update on Thursday after receiving several messages from concerned fans and members of the media.
In a video posted on Facebook, Tamaghna said he had spoken to both his parents in the morning and confirmed that they were safe. According to him, the couple had been staying in Pokhara for the shoot, while the areas worst affected by the floods were some distance away.
The couple's return journey, however, was disrupted by the natural disaster. They were originally scheduled to return on August 23, but the film shoot was affected by the floods and their flight from Pokhara was delayed.
Tamaghna said his parents were now travelling from Pokhara towards Gorakhpur. From there, they were expected to take a flight to Kolkata and return home on August 28.
Kharaj and Protiva had travelled to Nepal on August 20 with the production team of a Bangladeshi film. Family members and friends were also part of the trip. The actor has built a long career in Bengali cinema, appearing in films including The Namesake, Accident, Muktodhara and Jaatishwar. He has also worked in several Hindi films, including Yuva, Parineeta, Laga Chunari Mein Daag and Lafangey Parindey.
Their situation comes amid a major humanitarian crisis in Nepal. Severe flash floods have caused widespread destruction, with hundreds of people killed or reported missing. Indian tourists, pilgrims and workers have also been affected, prompting authorities in both countries to step up rescue and assistance efforts.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed concern over the situation and offered condolences to families who had lost loved ones. He said the state government was monitoring developments and coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu and Nepalese authorities to assist tourists, pilgrims, workers and businessmen from West Bengal.
For Kharaj's family and fans, the confirmation of his safety has brought relief. Although the actor and his wife remain temporarily stranded because of disrupted transport links, they are expected to make their way back to Kolkata once travel arrangements are completed.
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