In what seemed straight out of a film, a man named Rohit Arya held 17 kids hostage at an acting studio in Mumbai’s Powai area on Thursday. He also released a video on social media, stating that he was not a terrorist and did not need money. Arya said all he wants was to ask some questions to some people, and if not allowed, he would set the entire RA Studio on fire.

However, acting promptly, the Mumbai police rescued all the children and handed them over to their parents. Arya is reportedly from Nagpur and lived in Chembur. The children, all around 15 years old, were called at the studio for audition.

In its statement, the police said the kidnapper was “mentally unstable” and further probe is on to ascertain the reason behind his act. Police tried to negotiate with him, but when he did not agree, a team entered the studio through bathroom, DCP Nalawade said.

“It was a challenging operation, because we were negotiating with him without any positive outcome….To save the children’s lives was our priority,” Nalawade added. The accused sustained injuries, and later reportedly died in a hospital.

Notably, the incident bears many similarities to Yami Gautam’s film ‘A Thursday’, in which she plays the role of a school teacher who holds several children hostage to speak to officials, including the Prime Minister, played by Dimple Kapadia. Yami’s character happens to be a rape survivor in the film, which is revealed later on.

Rohit Arya also held children hostage in a studio, and sought to talk to certain individuals and the incident took place on a Thursday.

He was making this plan for sometime as, reported IANS, he was conducting auditions for 4-5 days here.

‘I am not a terrorist’: Rohit Arya

In his video, Rohit Arya said, “I am Rohit Arya. Instead of committing suicide, I have made a plan and have kept some kids here. I don’t have many demands. I have very simple demands. I have very moral demands and very ethical demands. And I have some questions. I have to talk to some people. I have to ask them questions. If I have a counter-question on their answer, then I have to ask a counter-question.”

“But I want this answer. I don’t want anything else. I am neither a terrorist nor do I have a great demand for money. There is no demand for money,” he added, further saying that a “slightest wrong move” would trigger him to set fire to the studio, he added.

What police said

The Mumbai police identified the man as Rohit Arya, confirming that he held several children hostage and released a video as well.

“A man, identified as Rohit Arya, has held a few children hostage in Powai area of Mumbai. He has released a video purportedly saying that he wants to speak with a few people and if he is not allowed to do it, he will set eveything on fire and harm himself and the children. The man seems to be mentally unstable and Police are trying to handle the matter,” the cops said.

“All children have been safely rescued from the spot. The man, Rohit Arya has been detained by the Police. The Police are talking to him and trying to find out why he took such a step and if actually is mentally unstable,” they further said.

“All the children are safe and handed over to their guardians. Other details will be shared at the earliest after due verification,” they added.

Arya had been conducting auditions over the past four to five days, IANS reported citing sources. “Today, he let 80 of the audition givers leave the premises after their test but asked about 20 children to stay back,” said a police official, the agency stated.