The controversy around drug-drama "Udta Punjab" is getting worse by the day. After the film was leaked online on Wednesday, reports claimed it is available on DVD across Mumbai.
As reported by Press Trust of India, the online links have been removed. But what's the solution to DVDs being circulated city-wide? Only time will tell.
Lead stars of the film, Shahid Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, have, through their tweets, urged film enthusiasts to watch the movie at the theatres, and so have several other actors, singers and directors.
Alia wrote: Guys please please do not waste 2 years of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.. Please watch #UdtaPunjab in only in theatres.
Shahid wrote: Blood and sweat of many in this film. It's been your battle as much as ours. Now is the time you can show it. Watch UdtaPunjab in theatres.
Aamir Khan, Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt, Omung Kumar, Arjun Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sidharth Malhotra, Bipasha Basu, Goldie Behl, Sona Mohapatra and Badshah, among others, have come out in support of "Udta Punjab."
Meanwhile, the leak has been reported at Mumbai's Cyber Crime Cell by producers Anurag Kashyap and Ekta Kapoor.
In other news, the 40-minute-long video, which has been put up on the web, has a "For Censor" stamp on it, making several industry people suspicious that it could be the censor board's way of getting even with the makers.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had demanded 13 cuts and cleared it with an "A" certificate. However, the Bombay High Court brought it down to one (the scene where Shahid's character, Tommy Singh, is seen urinating on a group of people has been asked to be taken off).
Directed by Abhishek Chaubey, "Udta Punjab" releases on June 17 and stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Diljit Dosanjh in key roles.
