Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 30: The much-anticipated Salman Khan starrer action-thriller ‘Sikandar’, which hit theaters on Sunday morning, has fallen victim to online piracy, sparking concerns over its box office performance.
Piracy Strikes ‘Sikandar’ on Release Day
Within hours of its release, illegal copies of ‘Sikandar’ surfaced on multiple piracy platforms, including Telegram groups and unauthorized streaming sites.
Popular film trade analyst Komal Nahta, who was among the first to detect the leak, initially refrained from posting about it to confirm the extent of the damage.
“Last night when I was in the trade, I discovered the film had already been leaked. But I didn’t tweet about it right away because I wanted to be 100 per cent sure. Sometimes only a few scenes are leaked, and if you call it a full leak, it can cause unnecessary panic,” Nahta told.
After speaking to several industry insiders, Nahta confirmed that the full film had indeed been leaked online.
Sajid Nadiadwala’s Team Races Against Piracy
According to Nahta, producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s team worked tirelessly to take down illegal links, but the damage had already been done.
“I was told that Sajid Nadiadwala and his authorized team worked hard to remove the film from many piracy websites. But by then, it had already spread very fast,” he said.
Impact on Box Office Collection
Nahta warned that early piracy leaks could significantly affect the film’s earnings, especially when illegal copies are available on the same day as its theatrical release.
“Free mein agar aapke phone mein Salman Khan ki film jo release ho rahi hai, usi din aapke mobile mein aa gayi hai, toh kyun aap cinema hall jaayenge?” he pointed out, emphasizing how audiences might opt for free pirated versions instead of purchasing tickets.
Producer’s Response to Piracy Crisis
Sajid Nadiadwala’s team did not officially confirm the leak but assured that their anti-piracy agencies are actively working to control the situation.
About ‘Sikandar’
Directed by A.R. Murugadoss, ‘Sikandar’ stars Salman Khan alongside Rashmika Mandanna. The film, released on March 30, was expected to open with strong box office numbers. However, the piracy issue could pose a serious threat to its collections.
The battle against movie piracy continues to be a major challenge for Bollywood, with filmmakers urging audiences to support cinema by watching films legally in theaters