The much-anticipated release of the Salman Khan starrer action thriller ‘Sikandar’ took an unexpected turn when it faced piracy issues soon after its release. Early Sunday morning, the film was leaked online across multiple illegal platforms, including Telegram groups, allowing unauthorized downloads and streaming.
Prominent film trade analyst Komal Nahta, who quickly became aware of the piracy incident, initially hesitated to disclose the information publicly. “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,” Nahta explained. He emphasized the potential consequences of spreading unverified information that might not reflect the entire situation.
Engaging with several industry contacts, Nahta confirmed not only that ‘Sikandar’ had been fully leaked but also the extensive efforts by producer Sajid Nadiadwala and his team to curb the piracy. Despite their rapid action to remove the film from numerous websites, substantial damage had already been inflicted on its potential success. Nahta stressed the detrimental impact piracy poses to a film’s Box Office results, particularly when it occurs during such a critical time.
“Piracy can hit a film one or two weeks later, but this happened right on the release day,” Nahta elaborated. He further questioned cinema goers’ motivation to visit theaters when the film is freely available on pirated platforms. “Free mein agar aapke phone mein Salman Khan ki film jo release ho rahi hai, usi din aapke mobile mein free mein aa gayi hai, toh kyun aap cinema hall jaayenge?” he added, demonstrating the ease of accessibility being a significant concern.
While Sajid Nadiadwala’s team had no formal confirmation of the leak, they reported that their devoted piracy agencies were diligently managing the situation to mitigate further spread. ‘Sikandar’, directed by AR Murugadoss and featuring Rashmika Mandanna alongside Salman Khan, debuted amid these challenges on March 30.
The incident highlights the ongoing battle against piracy in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the need for enhanced security measures and a collective effort to support and protect creative content. As the situation unfolds, the film’s performance remains crucial to understanding the long-term impact of this piracy setback on Salman Khan’s cinematic ventures.
