We thought it was a film shoot : Man who first alerted police

On Thursday, when the hostage incident occurred, three people - Umesh Tiwari and Arya's two production team members, Tanaji Kale and Amol Durgude - arrived at the Powai Police Station around 2pm and informed the police about the situation. The police then rushed to the spot.

- Megha Kuchik

Umesh Tiwari, who claimed he was the first to inform the police via a mobile call, runs a tea and bhurji-pav stall outside the R.A. Studio in Powai. He told The FPJ, "Arya sent videos to all parents except me. I reached my stall around 1.30pm when I heard crying and shouting. I thought a film shoot was going on. A day earlier, a shoot had taken place where a building was shown catching fire. During that shoot, the parents were running and screaming as part of the scene. So, I assumed that on Thursday too, a similar shoot was happening. Along with two or three friends, I went to watch it. But when we went near the parents, they were crying, bowing before us, and pleading for help to save their children. They told us that their children had been kidnapped inside the studio."