Actor 'bankrupt' before death

Actor Paul Bhattacharjee, whose body was found near cliffs in East Sussex earlier this week, was declared bankrupt the day before he went missing from a theatre, according to The Independent.

The bankruptcy action was reportedly filed by HM Revenue and Customs.

Bhattacharjee, who appeared in Casino Royale and Eastenders, was last seen leaving the Royal Court theatre in London on 10 July. His body was later found at Splash Point cliffs in Seaford.

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Actor Paul Bhattacharjee, who was found dead yesterday aged 53, played Benedick in the Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing at Stratford-upon-Avon last year alongside Meera Syal.

The RSC co-star of Paul Bhattacharjee said there is "a sense of disbelief" about the actor's death, London's Evening Standard newspaper reports.

Kulvinder Ghir, who appeared alongside Bhattacharjee in Much Ado about Nothing, told the paper: “Paul’s death is shocking. There is a sense of disbelief because he had so much energy in him.”

Police recovered the body of the Casino Royale and EastEnders actor, 53, early yesterday near cliffs in East Sussex.

Ghir, who starred in Bend it Like Beckham and sketch show Goodness Gracious Me, said: “Paul really spoke through the tremendous body of his work. He really tried to take on roles that he could work with and develop a message about."

More: Body found of missing actor Paul Bhattacharjee

Tributes were paid to the actor Paul Bhattacharjee tonight, with many from the theatre world taking to Twitter to express their sadness.

Director Jamie Lloyd wrote:

Muzz Khan, who appeared in Much Ado About Nothing alongside the late actor, said:

Playwright Duncan Gates wrote:

Paul Bhattacharjee starred in EastEnders and films Casino Royale The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, White Teeth and Dirty Pretty Things.

He had been due to appear in this week's play Talk Show at the Royal Court. His role in the play, which began last night, was recast.

He was part of the theatre's company of 14 actors performing in the Weekly Rep series, which sees six plays staged in six weeks, and had already appeared in two of the productions.

The body of actor Paul Bhattacharjee who disappeared from a theatre a week ago has been found, police said tonight.

Mr Bhattacharjee, who starred in James Bond film Casino Royale and EastEnders, had last been seen leaving rehearsals at the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London, on July 10 and appeared to walk in the direction of a nearby Tube station.

The 53-year-old was said to be in good spirits that evening but after sending his girlfriend a text message at 9pm, no-one heard from him and he was reported missing.

Scotland Yard was contacted by officers in Sussex this morning and told that the body of a man matching his description had been found near cliffs at Splash Point in Seaford, East Sussex, last Friday.

Mr Bhattacharjee, from Redbridge, north-east London, was formally identified today and his next of kin have been informed. His death is not being treated as suspicious.