She urged fans to wait for the theatrical release and celebrate Vijay’s final film on the big screen.

The actress emphasised that piracy robs artists and technicians of recognition and undermines the collective cinema experience. She described the leak as deeply upsetting, stressing that a film represents countless hours of effort, creativity, and sacrifice. Her appeal resonated across the Tamil film industry, which united in condemning piracy.

Industry sources estimated losses between ₹300 crore and Rs 400 crore due to the leak, affecting box office revenue and satellite/OTT rights. Amazon Prime Video reportedly withdrew from a ₹120 crore streaming deal, citing delays and piracy concerns. Distributors highlighted that star-driven releases like Vijay’s are crucial for theatres, making this leak a severe commercial setback.

Top stars, including Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Suriya, Chiranjeevi, and Sivakarthikeyan, condemned the leak, describing it as unjust and damaging to creative integrity. Chiranjeevi called for a “Kill Piracy, Save Cinema” movement, while others linked the crisis to prolonged censorship delays.

KVN Productions issued legal notices warning that anyone sharing leaked material faces civil and criminal penalties. The production house confirmed that proceedings have already begun against alleged offenders.

The leak occurred before certification was finalised, compounding the crisis and intensifying scrutiny of censorship delays. Pooja Hegde’s emotional appeal underscored the need for audiences to support cinema legally and protect the industry from piracy’s damaging impact.