The alarming leak of Sikandar’s HD print on torrents has opened up a whirlpool of conspiracy theories. One of the most ludicrous is the charge that Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies VFX, the company responsible for the visual effects of the movie, did it.
Salman Khan fans have given this theory much fuel, claiming an insider job to destroy the movie. But such explanations are not based on good sense or logic.
Red Chillies Entertainment is a very well-established company with a good reputation. It is unlikely that they would jeopardize their reputation over a movie like Sikandar. Furthermore, insiders indicate the leak may have resulted from overseas censor boards or other post-production levels.
A distributor indicated the files of movies are encrypted and need a sophisticated KDM to open, which is an uncommon leak and hard to accomplish without insider participation.
Interestingly, the pirated version includes scenes voluntarily removed after the censor certification, such as extended flashbacks and alternate music tracks. This suggests the leak occurred after the final cut was submitted.
Theories about Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang being involved or an anonymous Twitter warning four days before release further complicate matters. A seasoned producer explained that previous leaks of movies such as Udta Punjab and Great Grand Masti are still unsolved.
As the blame game goes on, it is hard to believe that Shah Rukh Khan or his production house would risk their reputation for a movie that many find ordinary. Rather, this incident underscores the need for more stringent anti-piracy steps in Bollywood.
