Actor Reveals Chilling Connection to Mumbai Hostage Crisis: Rohit Arya's Film Project Invitation Days Before Tragedy

Ruchita Vijay Jadhav (R), the Mumbai actor contacted by hostage-taker Rohit Arya (L).

Mumbai:

Following the deadly police shooting of Mumbai filmmaker Rohit Arya, who held 19 people hostage including 17 children while demanding Rs 2.4 crore from the Maharashtra government, actor Ruchita Vijay Jadhav has revealed an eerie connection to the incident.

Jadhav disclosed through an Instagram post that Arya had reached out to her on October 23, inviting her to discuss a "film project" - chillingly, one about a hostage situation.

This disturbing revelation raises haunting questions: Was Arya seeking creative perspective on his planned hostage-taking? Was he trying to test his scheme with an uninvolved party? Or was the actual hostage drama originally intended to occur when Jadhav might have been present at his Powai studio?

These questions remain forever unanswered as Arya took these secrets to his grave.

Visibly shaken, Jadhav wrote on Instagram, "...today, on October 31, when I saw the terrifying incident in the news, involving this same person, I felt a chill. I can't stop thinking about how close I came to being there. I feel incredibly grateful to God and my family..."

The message on Instagram by Mumbai actor Ruchita Jadhav. Credit: @ruchitavijayjadhav

"...I truly believe someone up there was protecting me... I hope it reminds you too, we need to be extremely careful when meeting new people for work, no matter how normal things appear."

Jadhav mentioned that Arya first contacted her on October 4 and later requested a meeting on October 23, offering three possible dates beginning October 27. "I confirmed I could meet on the 28th..." she revealed in her post.

Second half of Instagram message by Mumbai actor Ruchita Jadhav. Credit: @ruchitavijayjadhav

"However, due to an unavoidable family commitment, I cancelled the meeting," she continued, expressing profound gratitude for the instincts that kept her from attending that Tuesday appointment.

Rohit Arya, the Mumbai hostage-taker

Despite this missed connection, Arya proceeded with his plan. Shortly after noon on Thursday, he locked the doors of his studio, trapping 19 individuals who had arrived under the pretense of an 'audition'.

In a video released an hour into the crisis, Arya claimed his demands were 'simple, moral, and ethical' - specifically that the Maharashtra government pay him Rs 2.4 crore he believed he was owed for leading Project Let's Change, an urban sanitation initiative involving 59 lakh students.

In his disturbing video, Arya rambled, "I don't have many demands... I have very simple demands, moral demands, ethical demands, and a few questions. I want to talk to some people, ask them questions, and if I have counter-questions I want to ask them..."

Arya stated that taking children hostage was part of his 'plan' and threatened to harm them.

When negotiation attempts failed, police took action after an officer who had infiltrated the building observed Arya aiming a gun at one of the children. The officer fired, striking Arya in the chest, resulting in his death but saving all hostages.

Rohit Arya and the Powai studio where he held 19 people hostage.

Later, the Maharashtra government released a detailed statement clarifying that they did not owe Arya any money. In fact, they claimed he owed them money after improperly collecting 'registration fees' from schools participating in the cleanliness campaign.

Arya's wife Anjali later told reporters that her husband had been fighting both for the promised money - the Rs 2.4 crore he claimed had been sanctioned - and for 'recognition' of his work.

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