Key Points:
- Salman Khan’s action thriller Sikandar leaked online hours after its theatrical release on March 30, 2025.
- Notorious piracy platforms like Tamilrockers, Movierulz, and Telegram groups are offering illegal downloads and streams.
- The leak could significantly impact the film’s box office performance, projected to open at ₹28 crore.
- Piracy hurts the film industry, violates copyright laws, and poses cybersecurity risks to viewers.
- India’s anti-piracy laws prescribe hefty fines and imprisonment for offenders.
Mumbai: Salman Khan’s much-awaited action entertainer Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss, hit theaters on Sunday, March 30, coinciding with festive celebrations like Ugadi and Gudi Padwa. However, within hours of its release, piracy websites such as Tamilrockers, Movierulz, Filmyzilla, and Telegram groups leaked the full movie online in HD quality, offering illegal downloads and streaming links. This leak poses a serious threat to the film’s box office collections and the hard work of those involved in its production.
Piracy’s Impact on Sikandar
Despite strong anti-piracy measures and laws like India’s Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023, piracy remains rampant in Bollywood. Experts believe the leak originated from camcorder recordings inside theaters—a common method used by pirates to upload HD versions within hours of a film’s release. Industry insiders fear this leak could deter audiences from visiting cinemas, potentially affecting Sikandar’s opening day collections projected at ₹28 crore.
Salman Khan has been banking on Sikandar to revive his box office dominance after recent underwhelming performances like Tiger 3 and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. Advance bookings for Sikandar have crossed ₹13.53 crore with over 2.2 lakh tickets sold for Hindi screenings alone. However, piracy could undermine these promising numbers.
Why You Should Avoid Piracy
1. It’s Illegal
Downloading or streaming pirated movies is a punishable offense under Indian law. The Cinematograph Act prescribes up to three years of imprisonment or fines amounting to five percent of the film’s production cost for piracy-related offenses. Viewers engaging in piracy also risk legal consequences.
2. It Hurts the Film Industry
Piracy robs filmmakers of revenue essential for recovering production costs and funding future projects. From actors to technicians, hundreds of professionals depend on box office success for their livelihoods. Supporting piracy undermines their efforts and discourages investment in quality cinema.
3. Poor Viewing Experience
Pirated versions often feature low-quality video with shaky footage, muffled audio, and interruptions like audience movements captured during camcorder recordings in theaters. Films like Sikandar, designed as mass entertainers with high production values, deserve to be experienced on the big screen.
4. Cybersecurity Risks
Piracy websites are riddled with malware and scams that can infect devices or steal sensitive data like bank details. Many users attempting to download pirated movies end up falling victim to cyberattacks a risk far outweighing any perceived benefit of free content.
India’s Fight Against Piracy
The Indian government has been actively combating piracy through legislative measures like the Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill 2023. This law empowers authorities to block websites hosting pirated content while imposing stringent penalties on offenders. Industry leaders have also called for public awareness campaigns to educate audiences about the ethical and legal implications of piracy.
As Salman Khan’s Sikandar battles piracy threats just hours after release, fans are urged to support the film by watching it legally in theaters. Piracy not only hurts the industry but also compromises viewer safety and experience. Let’s celebrate cinema responsibly by saying no to piracy!
