Actor Randeep Hooda has weighed in on the growing problem of film set leaks in the entertainment industry, calling them “tragic” for creators but also suggesting that many such leaks are intentionally orchestrated for publicity.
The actor shared his views during promotions for Inspector Avinash Season 2, where he spoke about how social media leaks have become increasingly common in Indian films and streaming projects. According to Hooda, while filmmakers publicly express frustration over leaked footage and pictures, a significant number of leaks are actually used strategically as promotional tools.
“I have a sneaky suspicion that some of it is done on purpose, and it is a great PR peg,” Randeep said in an interview. He added that although leaks are unfortunate, many people in the industry use them to their advantage to create buzz and online discussion around projects.
The actor’s comments come at a time when several major Indian productions have faced repeated leaks from sets. Big-budget films such as King and Ramayana recently saw behind-the-scenes visuals and actor looks surface online long before official reveals, generating massive discussion across social media platforms.
Interestingly, Inspector Avinash Season 2 itself reportedly experienced similar issues during filming. Director Neerraj Pathak, who also spoke during the interaction, described set leaks as one of the “most tragic” experiences for creators because they often spoil carefully planned surprises.
Pathak explained that filmmakers spend years designing stories, visual styles and character looks, only for key elements to appear online prematurely. According to him, such leaks can diminish the impact creators hope to deliver to audiences during official promotions or release.
“When actors like Randeep Hooda work so hard on their looks, and something gets leaked beforehand, it gives away the surprise,” the director said while expressing disappointment over the issue.
At the same time, Randeep’s remarks suggested that the reality of the industry is more complicated than it appears publicly. The actor implied that while some leaks genuinely happen without permission, others may be strategically allowed because they generate enormous organic publicity online.
The phenomenon has become increasingly common in the social media era, where even blurry photographs from shooting locations can instantly go viral. In many cases, leaked images create anticipation and free publicity weeks or even months before a film’s official teaser campaign begins.
Recent years have seen multiple Bollywood and South Indian films become trending topics solely because of leaked set visuals. Large-scale productions such as Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, repeatedly dominated headlines after images from outdoor shoots surfaced online.
Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film King also witnessed leaked footage from action sequences circulating online, fuelling speculation and fan theories long before any official promotional material was released.
Randeep’s candid comments have now triggered wider conversations online about whether audiences are unknowingly participating in planned marketing strategies whenever leaked content trends on social media. Some users agreed with the actor, arguing that many “accidental leaks” often appear too perfectly timed to be genuine. Others, however, defended filmmakers and said uncontrolled leaks can genuinely damage storytelling and visual impact.
Industry experts have long debated the dual nature of leaks in modern entertainment culture. While unauthorised footage can harm carefully managed campaigns, selective leaks sometimes create viral momentum that traditional advertising struggles to achieve.
The discussion also reflects how entertainment marketing itself has changed in the digital age. Today, online speculation, memes and fan discussions often become as important to a project’s visibility as trailers and interviews. Even a single leaked image can dominate headlines for days.
Meanwhile, Randeep Hooda is currently preparing for the release of Inspector Avinash Season 2, which premieres on JioHotstar on May 15. Inspired by real-life events from Uttar Pradesh in the late 1990s, the crime thriller follows supercop Avinash Mishra’s battle against organised crime and political corruption.
The new season reportedly takes a darker turn, with Avinash facing personal and professional crises after his son becomes linked to a murder case and the system itself turns against him.
Apart from Hooda, the series also stars Urvashi Rautela, Amit Sial, Abhimanyu Singh, Rajneesh Duggal, Freddy Daruwala and Shalin Bhanot in important roles.
Randeep recently also spoke about reconnecting with the real-life cop Avinash Mishra, whose life inspired the series. The actor said spending time with Mishra helped him better understand the character’s physicality, mindset and worldview, adding authenticity to his performance.
For now, however, it is not the crime thriller itself but Randeep Hooda’s blunt take on film leaks that has become the bigger talking point online. His comments have reignited debate about whether leaked content in today’s entertainment world is truly accidental or increasingly part of calculated publicity strategy.