Updated: Sat, 01 Nov 2025 02:04 (IST) In the case of Rohit Arya, who was shot dead by police after taking 17 children hostage in Mumbai’s Powai, videographer Rohan Aher, who worked with him for many years, has made major revelations about the horrific incident. She said the film shoot in the studio turned into a terrifying real-life situation in an instant. “In reality, 17 people were taken hostage by pretending to be shooting,” videographer told Inside Story Digital Desk, Mumbai. In the case of Rohit Arya, who was shot by the police after holding 17 children hostage in Mumbai’s Powai, videographer Rohan Aher, who worked with him for years, made major revelations about the horrific incident. She said the film shoot in the studio turned into a terrifying real-life situation in an instant. Remove ads Only read news 17 people were literally taken hostage. Rohit Arya worked with a team and often rented studios. So this time something was similar, Rohit told his crew that he was going to shoot a hostage scene that would require some children and adults, but he actually took 17 people hostage in a building in Powai. Arya took 17 children and two adults hostage in the RA Studio in Powai on Thursday, after which he was killed by the police during a rescue operation. Videographer Rohan Aher, who worked with Arya for the past 10 years and was the key witness during the three-hour drama, narrated the events to the media. Aher said that none of the team members had the slightest idea that what they were planning would take a terrible turn. Aher shared that Arya told him on Wednesday that they were going to shoot a hostage story related to children. Arya also asked him to bring five liters of petrol and crackers for the shoot, but Aher did not follow the instructions as there would be children in the studio. Suddenly all the doors were locked, but by Thursday morning the line between reel and real had blurred. When Aher reached the studio, he was told that no one was allowed upstairs. Later, Arya comes and asks to close all the entrances and says that they are going to shoot a fire scene. Moments later, Arya poured the rubber solution and set it on fire in front of the frightened children. Arya also asked him to close the gate and all the entrances to the studio. He told that after this Arya set fire to the rubber solution in front of the children. Aher threatened people with the airgun and the rest got scared and asked him not to do it, when people started refusing too much Arya threatened Aher with the airgun and asked him to stand in the corner. Then Aher ran out of the studio and asked the people standing outside to call the police. He then went upstairs and broke the glass of one of the studio windows with a hammer (in an attempt to protect the children inside) and injured his hand, Aher reported. Arya sprayed pepper spray in his eyes, causing him to fall down the stairs. Die in police fire: Police soon came there and started talking to Arya. Aher somehow sneaked inside and took many children to safety, but four children remained trapped when the fire started. Arya was shot in the chest and pronounced dead at the hospital.