Piracy has been a persistent problem in the entertainment industry, with the rise of the internet and peer-to-peer file sharing making it easier for copyrighted content to be shared and distributed without permission. Filmyzilla, a website that emerged in the mid-2010s, has become a major player in the piracy landscape, offering a vast library of movies, TV shows, and music for free download.

The film received critical acclaim upon its release, with Vidya Balan's performance earning her widespread praise. However, like many Bollywood films, "The Dirty Picture" was also vulnerable to piracy, with bootleg copies of the movie emerging soon after its release.

Individuals caught downloading or sharing copyrighted content without permission can face fines, imprisonment, or both. In 2019, the Mumbai police arrested several individuals for running a piracy racket, seizing over 100 lakh rupees worth of pirated content.