Social media leaks from movie and series sets have slowly become one of the biggest headaches for filmmakers, but according to Randeep Hooda, not every leak is accidental anymore. The actor recently opened up about the growing trend of leaked photos and clips appearing online even before projects officially release, and he feels many of these incidents may actually be happening on purpose to create buzz around a film or show.
The discussion happened while Randeep was promoting Inspector Avinash Season 2, which itself reportedly faced problems with footage and visuals leaking online during production. Over the last few years, this has become extremely common in the Indian entertainment industry. Big-budget projects like Ramayana and King have also seen costumes, looks, and even important scenes making their way onto social media long before official reveals.
During his interaction with Times Now, Randeep admitted he has developed what he called a “sneaky suspicion” about the whole leak culture. According to him, while creators publicly express frustration, some people behind the scenes may actually use leaks as a marketing strategy to generate online conversation and free publicity. The actor said many leaks become a “great PR peg,” adding that people often create noise around them because controversy and curiosity help projects trend faster online.
What made Randeep’s comments more interesting is that they came right after director Neerraj Pathak spoke emotionally about how damaging leaks can feel for creators. Pathak described social media leaks as one of the most tragic things for filmmakers because a huge amount of effort goes into designing looks, planning reveals, and carefully building surprise elements for audiences. According to him, when visuals suddenly appear online before release, the impact creators wanted to achieve gets weakened instantly.
The director specifically pointed toward the physical transformations actors go through for roles. He mentioned how Randeep worked heavily on his appearance not only for Swatantrya Veer Savarkar but also for Inspector Avinash Season 2. When unfinished clips or unofficial set videos leak early, it removes the excitement makers try hard to preserve for release day. Pathak also claimed many people leak material simply because it earns them money online through views and viral engagement.
Still, Randeep’s take added another layer to the discussion. The actor basically suggested that the industry itself sometimes benefits from these “accidental” leaks because they instantly dominate entertainment headlines and social media timelines. In today’s attention economy, even negative publicity can push a project into trending conversations. Many fans online have noticed that leaked looks often appear just weeks before teaser launches or trailer releases, which naturally creates speculation about whether some of them are actually controlled promotions.
Meanwhile, Inspector Avinash Season 2 is preparing for its release nearly three years after the first season gained strong popularity among crime-drama viewers. The series is inspired by real incidents from Uttar Pradesh during the late 1990s and follows supercop Avinash Mishra as he battles organized crime networks, illegal arms dealers, and political corruption. The first season built a loyal audience mainly because of its grounded storytelling and Randeep Hooda’s intense performance style, which many viewers felt suited the raw atmosphere of the show.
The upcoming season appears much darker and more personal for the lead character. According to the trailer, Avinash’s son gets connected to a murder investigation, turning his life upside down. Soon after, the officer finds himself betrayed by the same system he once served honestly and is suspended from duty. The story then shifts into his fight to save his family while also trying to prove his innocence against growing pressure from both criminals and authorities.
Apart from Randeep Hooda, the series also features Urvashi Rautela, Amit Sial, Abhimanyu Singh, Rajneesh Duggal, Shalin Bhanot, and Freddy Daruwala in important roles. The new season is scheduled to premiere on JioHotstar on May 15.
Honestly, Randeep’s comments have opened up a conversation that many inside the industry probably discuss privately but rarely say publicly. Leaks today are no longer just random incidents from crowded film sets. In several cases, they have become part of the marketing cycle itself. Whether intentional or not, one thing is pretty clear — audiences now consume movie hype very differently than they did even five years ago, and the industry is still figuring out how to control that chaos.
