A year after 17 children were held hostage at a Powai studio as they attended an audition, some of them have returned to acting assignments and modelling contests, while others have abandoned plans to pursue careers in films and television. Their families say the children are doing better, but the October 2025 ordeal continues to influence decisions about their futures.

For Kiran Surve, whose daughter was among the children inside the studio, the first two months after the incident were difficult. The Pune based real estate developer had accompanied his daughter and wife to the studio that day.

“She would wake up from her sleep when the shocking incident came back to her in a dream. Slowly, we consoled her.…