The leak of the film "Sikandar" on piracy websites took the entire industry by surprise, occurring in the early hours on its release day, March 30. This premiere coincided with the celebration of Eid 2025. Notably, the final version of the film did not incorporate this leak. To gain further insights into the details of the pirated version and the circumstances surrounding its release, Bollywood Hungama consulted multiple sources within the industry.

Differences in the pirated version

An entertainment portal interviewed a company insider who regrettably viewed the film in its pirated version. He noted that certain scenes were omitted from the final cut, and the unrefined background score is audible. Sikandar learns that Saisri (Rashmika Mandanna) aspired to become a lawyer after encountering her legal friends following her demise. In a scene set in Dharavi, medical students approach Sikandar to inform him about the pollution issues plaguing the city. This explanation is more thorough and offers a more complete understanding than other adaptations. Flashbacks of Kamaruddin depict him collapsing to the ground due to his lung condition in the same scene.

An industry source has revealed that Sikandar's associates possess knowledge concerning Kamaruddin's health status, Vaidehi's (Kajal Aggarwal) exit from her home, and Nisha's (Anjini Dhawan) ongoing illness prior to Minister Pradhan's (Sathyaraj) phone call during the intermission. This information, along with Pradhan's threat to kill the transplant recipients, clarifies the necessity for Sikandar to stay in Mumbai rather than travel to Rajkot.

Scenes that did not make it to theatrical release

A source familiar with the situation revealed that there is more to the story. In one scenario, Vaidehi attempts to take her own life. Additionally, Sikandar and Nisha are featured in a scene inside a car. The passenger not only places a substantial order with the taxi driver but also informs Sikandar that he has given the vadams to another individual.

An industry insider noted that in the pirated version, it is not Iulia Vantur who performs "Lag Ja Gale." Instead, the original song from "Woh Kaun Thi" (1964) is still being used. After obtaining the censor certificate, the producers chose to remove certain additional scenes, which remain in the pirated copy. As part of the voluntary edits, Sikandar's rendition of "Ajeeb Dastaan" is absent from the pirated version. This suggests that the leak likely occurred after the Central Board of Film Certification had approved the film, indicating it may have been an inside job.

Speculations on the source of the leak

The VFX company Red Chillies has become the focus of various conspiracy theories circulating on social media. According to certain sources, an individual associated with Lawrence Bishnoi's group may be involved. A distributor informed the entertainment portal that it is essential to recognize that a film file is encrypted, although they requested anonymity. The only method to access it is through a KDM, which is significantly more complex than a standard password. Even crew members require authorization to gain access. There are speculations that the film may have bypassed the Foreign Censor Board's examination; however, even in such a scenario, an encrypted file would still be necessary. It is quite rare for a country's censor board to request a Vimeo file instead of an encrypted version if the screening room is not available. Nonetheless, no one outside the production team can confirm whether this has happened with Sikandar.

An expert in post-production disclosed that they only send an encrypted file when converting the film to 4DX. However, neither 4DX nor MX4D have ever released Sikandar.

Lessons from past leak

A seasoned producer inquired whether anyone had identified the individual behind the leaks of Udta Punjab or Great Grand Masti. It appears there is a belief that the person accountable for the leak of Sikandar will not face any repercussions. An anonymous X page issued a threat to release the film's print, which was particularly unexpected this time around, occurring just 48 hours before its premiere. This unusual incident highlights the necessity of holding such offenders responsible. Additionally, filmmakers must exercise greater vigilance in the future to prevent pirates from seizing the chance to upload leaked versions online.

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