Police search for actor Paul Bhattacharjee after Royal Court disappearance

The 53-year-old was last seen at the theatre shortly after 6pm last Wednesday (10 July) following a rehearsal.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Court said: “He left rehearsals on Wednesday afternoon in good spirits and just didn’t arrive for rehearsals the next day, Thursday morning. We haven’t heard anything.”

The family of the actor have issued an emotional appeal for his safe return.

His son Rahul Bhattacharjee-Prashar said: “Dad, wherever you are please, please get in contact. We want to know that you are okay and if anyone has seen or heard from him in the last few days please get in contact. Please, we are just worried sick.”

Mr Bhattacharjee-Prashar, who lives with his Mum in Earslfield, added: “It’s completely out of character. He was doing well in his career and everything seemed to be going okay. I just don’t know what has happened.”

Police reported that the actor, who also uses the name Gautam Paul Bhattacharjee, texted his girlfriend at 9pm last Wednesday but hasn’t been heard from him since.

Bhattacharjee had been appearing at the Royal Court as part of an ensemble of 14 actors in its Weekly Rep series, as part of Open Court. He was due to appear in Alistair McDowall’s Talk Show, which opened last night and runs until 20 July. The theatre has had to bring in actor Lee Armstrong to replace him.

Last year he played Benedick opposite Meera Syal in the RSC production of Much Ado About Nothing, which transferred to the West End as part of the company’s World Shakespeare Festival.

His other recent stage credits include The Physicists at the Donmar Warehouse and Complicite’s A Disappearing Number.

On screen he appeared in Bond film Casino Royale in 2006, while TV credits include EastEnders, Waking the Dead, The Jury, Spooks and The Bill.

Bhattacharjee’s agent Sally Long-Innes said: “He seemed completely fine to me. As far as we could tell there was nothing wrong with his state of mind. There were no clues in the last text message at all I’m afraid.”

He is described as an Asian man of slim build and is 6ft tall with short grey hair. When he went missing he was wearing light-coloured trousers, a blue shirt and light-coloured shoes and was carrying a black backpack. He lives in the Redbridge area.

Anyone with information on Paul Bhattacharjee’s whereabouts can call the police non-emergency line on 101 or Missing People on 116 000.