Salman Khan‘s supporters are showing their dedication beyond mere fandom by participating in a significant anti-piracy effort that resulted in the removal of over 3,000 pirated links of Sikandar. This action demonstrates their commitment to protecting the hard work of their favorite superstar. Furthermore, the filmmakers of Sikandar are not taking these illegal activities lightly. They’ve initiated legal actions, with Cyber Cell actively tracking the IP addresses of those involved in the piracy.
Sikandar represents Salman Khan’s much-anticipated return to cinema after his previous blockbuster, Tiger 3. It premiered on March 30, 2025, but on the same day, the film was leaked online in its entirety. Various piracy platforms offered downloadable prints and an HD version surfaced on X (formerly Twitter). Infamous sites such as Tamilrockers, Movierulz, Filmyzilla, and numerous Telegram groups advertised unauthorized download and streaming links. Such leaks can severely impact the film’s revenue.
In spite of ongoing efforts and stringent anti-piracy laws, Bollywood continues its battle against the pervasive threat of piracy. For Sikandar, the leaks reportedly stemmed from camcorder recordings inside cinemas, which were quickly enhanced and uploaded in high definition shortly thereafter.
In response to the spread of illegal links, Sajid Nadiadwala’s production house, Salman Khan’s fan clubs, and Mumbai Police’s cyber cell department swiftly united in a counteraction. Together, they successfully removed over 3,000 links that hosted the unauthorized version of Sikandar.
A Mid-Day report noted that Sajid Nadiadwala’s production team has pinpointed over 1,000 accounts for the authorities to scrutinize. Both Salman Khan and Sajid are actively collaborating with cybersecurity experts, legal advisors, and social media platforms to hinder the spread of pirated copies online. “The original source of the leak remains unidentified, but authorities are actively tracking the IP addresses linked to its dissemination. Legal action will be taken against those responsible,” the report stated.
Ravi Desai, leader of the Salman Khan Fan Club on X, shared that indications of leaks appeared even before Sikandar’s release when an account posted an unseen image from the film, hinting at an imminent leak. Although the account vanished soon after, the real leak occurred at 11:30 pm on Saturday when another account spread the full film. Pirated versions rapidly permeated across various torrent sites and X. “By midnight, it was everywhere,” Desai recounted.
In under 30 minutes, Salman Khan’s fans, the production team, and Mumbai Police’s Cyber Wing coordinated efforts to identify the accounts responsible for spreading the film on X and Telegram. “3,000 links have been removed so far,” Desai confirmed, noting, “We believe the leak originated from the post-production end.”
Despite the efforts to curb piracy, Sikandar experienced a modest opening at the box office, amassing around Rs 26 crore on its first day. The incident underscores the persistent challenges Bollywood faces with piracy, but the swift action led by Salman Khan’s fans highlights a proactive stance towards safeguarding the industry’s interests.
The ongoing legal battle and tracing of IP sources will likely deter future piracy attempts, setting a precedent for stronger enforcement and collaboration among stakeholders in combating this digital menace.
