Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has denied that his forthcoming film "Raaz Reboot" has leaked online, but he says a bogus file in its name was made available online to warn miscreants.
It was reported that the fourth instalment of the popular "Raaz" franchise, helmed by Bhatt, has been leaked. The news of its leak went viral online on Tuesday night, with lead actor Emraan Hashmi urging his fans to avoid watching the leaked version.
But when asked about the film's leak, Bhatt told IANS over phone from Mumbai: "It's not really leaked. We put in a bogus file because we know what's been happening for the past few films, and we have understood that."
The filmmaker said he was amazed to see that within 10 to 15 minutes of the news being leaked that the film is online, "5,000 downloads had happened".
"5,000 downloads of a film which was not even 'Raaz Reboot'. So this is how Torrents is destroying the business. Now this (planting a bogus file) is our way of warning those people to stay away from our content. So, no, the film has not leaked," he said.
Bhatt said a film's leak damages its box office potential.
"'Great Grand Masti' is an example of how terribly the business got affected. So, of course, a film after it has released, when it leaks online, it damages business. So you can imagine for a film that has not even released," he added.
What action can be taken against online leaks?
"Ultimately, I think it is robbery, stealing. It is stealing someone's hard work... I would just tell people that guys if you aren't going to steal cars and money, then why do you go to steal someone's work on the torrent?"
He said it is difficult to police the online space.
"I would just appeal to people's sense of goodness because I don't think there is any law on the digital space. It is very difficult to police that space," he said.
Recently, the censor board copies of films like "Udta Punjab" and "Great Grand Masti" were leaked online. But Bhatt said he doesn't think it's anybody in the censor body who is behind the leaks.
"I don't think that the censor board is leaking copies. I know I have an ongoing fight with the censor board, but that doesn't mean that I am going to stand up and say that 'Censor Board leaked the copy'. That's not true."
Bhatt appealed that people should watch films in theatres.
"What I would like to add is that watch films in the theatre and if you decide not to watch them, then don't watch them. But do not download," he said.
"Raaz Reboot" features Kriti Kharbanda and Gaurav Arora apart from Emraan. The film will release on Friday.
--IANS
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