The Filmyzilla scam had a significant impact on the Bollywood film industry. According to estimates, the industry lost over ₹10,000 crores (approximately $1.5 billion USD) due to piracy in 2020 alone. The scam also led to a loss of jobs, as several film and TV production companies shut down due to the inability to compete with pirated content.
Initially, Filmyzilla operated as a small-time piracy website, with a limited collection of films and TV shows. However, as the demand for pirated content grew, so did the website's popularity. The site's administrators began to upload new releases within hours of their theatrical debut, often even before the official trailer was out. This led to a significant surge in website traffic, making it one of the most visited piracy sites in India.
The scam gained momentum as Filmyzilla started to attract the attention of Bollywood producers and distributors. They accused the website of causing significant losses to the industry, estimating that the site was responsible for pirating over 90% of Bollywood films. The industry began to take notice, and several high-profile cases were filed against the website and its administrators.