Theft of 'What's Your Raashee?' master print scare

Hours before the release of his new film "What's Your Raashee?" director Ashutosh Gowariker is trying to understand how the master print of his film was allegedly stolen and pirated from a laboratory.

"I've been travelling to Toronto and then to Ahmedabad, so I'm not aware of the full situation. However, it's a scary thought that films have been going out for piracy from the lab," Gowariker told IANS.

UTV, which has co-produced "What's Your Raashee?" with Ashutosh Gowariker Productions PVt Ltd, has slapped a legal notice of Rs.50 crore each on Adlabs and UFO Moviez for allegedly abetting the theft of the master print.

UTV alleged that the master print went missing days before the movie's scheduled release Sep 25.

The business development manager of Adlabs Processing, Durgadas Bhakta, was arrested in Mumbai for allegedly stealing and selling the master print. Bhakta allegedly sold it for Rs.200,000 to movie pirates.

"I'm glad they were caught out when my film was smuggled out. We don't know the extent of the damage. I can only be thankful my masterprint was retrieved. Just how many copies were made we don't know," said the director.

Choosing to see the lighter side of the grim situation, Gowariker said: "I hope the pirates didn't cut the film. I don't want them to watch an incomplete film."

The film stars Priyanka Chopra and Hurman Baweja in the lead roles.