The family that owns Powai’s RA Studio and their staff were mortified when a renter, Rohit Arya, held 17 children hostage inside the facility on October 30. More than 10 days later, the studio is still sealed, and the owners aren’t aware of the damage inside.
Speaking about the event that set the hostage crisis in motion, Vikram Singh Chandel, the spokesperson of the family, said, “A gentleman called Ravi Kondake approached the person handling the studio’s bookings, saying that a producer, Rohit Arya, wanted to organise auditions and workshops in our studio space. Ravi also told the management that he himself owned a nearby studio, but it was too big for Rohit’s requirements.”
According to Chandel, they had approached the management earlier regarding another property in Powai, which they use for kindergarten students. “That is a huge space. But after Rohit checked both the properties, he insisted that he preferred RA Studio. This surprised the management, as the other space is a far bigger one. In hindsight, we realise that that space had more entry-exit entrance points, and Rohit might have realised that they would have made it difficult for him to do what he was intending to do,” he added.
The booking
Chandel said, “Rohit booked the space for October 26 to 29. As he wanted the upper space too, we weren’t sure what to do. We had given away that space to a party that uses it for training purposes, etc, permanently. But when Rohit insisted that he would require it for only four days, we finally gave in and decided to speak to the other party to adjust.”
According to Chandel, Rohit made 50 per cent of the payment the day he finalised the studio, and the remaining amount was paid on October 25. When Rohit met the management, he claimed he was involved in the making of several films for the Maharashtra and Gujarat governments. On checking his credentials, videos of him with politicians popped up, giving credence to his claims. “He even provided links for children’s films that were commissioned by the government, which he claimed were shown in all schools across Maharashtra,” Chandel said.
The interiors of the RA Studio, situated on the ground floor of the Mahavir Classik building in Powai. Pics/By Special Arrangement
“Convinced about his authenticity, the studio decided to give him the space. However, soon after, Rohit insisted that he needed to use a shed right outside the studio. The space is unused, so he was asked why he needed it. Rohit told us that he wanted the parents of children who were coming for the auditions to be comfortable in the shade. The management found it weird that he put up his own flexi banner outside. But they decided to let it go as it was a matter of only four days.”
‘We were taken aback’
Chandel said troubling signs were day from the first day itself. “Rohit had clearly told them that there would be about 25-30 people on the premises at any given time. But when the management got to know through the staff that there were more than 300 people present, someone from the management got concerned and immediately called Rohit. The latter then apologised and immediately short-listed 30 kids, asking everyone else to leave.”
Chandel said the second and third days were uneventful, but on the fourth, everyone was a little taken aback to see that numerous cameras had been installed in the studio. “We were wondering how he was carrying out the auditioning and workshop, and shooting simultaneously? But then we didn’t want to intervene as he seemed experienced and he had a crew.”
At the end of the fourth day, Rohit approached them asking for a day’s extension as work was pending. Chandel said, “We refused at first as they had a party that had gracefully allowed the space on the upper floor to be used for four days, and they didn’t want to inconvenience them any longer. But Rohit kept persisting. Finally, we permitted them to shoot from early morning to 12 noon. Arya immediately agreed.”
The crisis day
A senior manager had work outside the city on October 30. He was contacted on the phone by his staff members, complaining that not only had Arya not vacated the place, but he had also locked the studio from the inside. Chandel said, “We immediately started calling Rohit. The latter responded to his calls at least four or five times and kept assuring him that he would compensate him for his inconvenience.”
“Staff members then shocked us, telling us that Rohit had somehow managed to weld the locks together! A domestic help was shooed out of the studio by Rohit so aggressively that she couldn’t even collect her handbag and phone. They are still on the premises, which have been sealed by the police. Rohit had allowed Rohan Ahire, his head of production, and an old woman who had accompanied her grandchild to stay inside. We later learnt that the grandmother was feeling uncomfortable outside in the heat, so Rohit invited her to sit inside the AC studio!”
According to Chandel, Rohit had managed to seal off all windows and doors on the first floor and had blocked the CCTV camera there. As soon as Ahire, the production head, realised something was amiss, he tried to call for help via the CCTV camera on the ground floor, but the management had no access to laptops to monitor CCTV footage. Chandel said, “We were all outside at the time.” All the CCTV footage has now been gathered by the police. Chandel said, “We were beyond shocked to learn a crime of this kind was happening within our studio, which has always been full of laughter and controversy-free.”
The facility
RA Studio was launched in 2024 as the Agarwals felt there was a need for a buzzing space in Powai, where art, culture and ideas could come together. It is a space where people around the area come to collaborate and share their stories.
