Salman Khan’s Sikandar Hit By Rs 91 Cr Piracy Blow; Makers File Massive Insurance Claim: Report

Salman Khan's latest film, Sikandar, has faced a significant setback due to piracy. Just hours after its release, the movie was leaked online, leading to substantial financial losses for the production team. According to Bollywood Hungama, the leak resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 91 crore.

An insider revealed that an audit was conducted to evaluate the extent of the leak and its impact on revenue. Ernst & Young (EnY) provided a detailed report estimating the loss at around Rs 91 crore. The audit compared projected earnings with actual figures post-leak.

Unreleased Scenes in Pirated Version

The pirated version of Sikandar included scenes not seen in theatres. These scenes featured medical students meeting Sikandar in Dharavi and an extended flashback about Kamaruddin's health issues. Additionally, there was a touching conversation where Sikandar learns about Rashmika Mandanna's character's ambition to become a lawyer.

Other unreleased scenes included a pre-interval segment showing challenges faced by Sikandar's team, a deleted moment of Vaidehi's suicide attempt, and an emotional cab scene with vadams. The presence of these scenes suggests that the leak happened after CBFC clearance.

Financial Impact and Response

Advanced tracking tools were employed to monitor illegal downloads and streams, assessing the financial damage to both theatrical and digital revenues. "Such audits often include data from ticketing platforms, distributor reports, and forensic tracing of piracy dissemination," explained the source.

The Rs 91 crore figure is based on potential losses in theatrical and digital revenue. With mounting losses, the filmmakers are reportedly filing an insurance claim to recover damages. This situation highlights serious concerns about content security in today's digital age.