Rajkummar Rao’s Maalik Releases Today: A New Age Gangster Saga Begins

• Directed by Pulkit, the film promises a gritty tale of power, survival, and redemption in the heart of the underworld

At the theaters across India today is the highly anticipated gangster drama Maalik, starring Bollywood actor Rajkummar Rao. Directed by Pulkit, under the banner of Junglee Pictures, Maalik features Rao in a never-seen-before avatar—intense, brooding, and unapologetically violent. With the movie trending on the Google search engine and taking conversations by storm on social networks, expectations are through the roof for this extremely crime-heavy entertainer.

Maalik- A story of Power and Payback

As described, Maalik tells a story concerning Rudra, an orphan-turned-kingpin, who climbs up a violent underworld empire. Based against the Hindi heartland, the film delves into the themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the cost of ambition. Though there is little to know regarding the official plot, most early reactions to the teaser always hint at a gritty and emotionally charged narrative laid with political undertones and personal vengeance.

Rajkumar Rao and Manushi Chillar dive into darkness

In Maalik, Rajkummar Rao breaks away from his socially driven roles to portray Rudra, an orphan-turned-don navigating the violent world of power and betrayal. His transformation into a cold, calculated gangster is both physical and psychological, with Rao describing Rudra as “a survivor with a conscience.”

Opposite him, Manushi Chhillar plays Zoya, a mysterious and emotionally complex character who plays a pivotal role in Rudra’s evolution. The film marks a bold shift for Manushi, moving into darker, grittier territory that challenges her image and range.

Box Office: Slow Start Despite Buzz

Despite trending on Google and creating early social media chatter, Maalik has had a lukewarm response at the box office in terms of advance bookings. The makers opened ticket sales on Wednesday afternoon—less than two days before release—but by Thursday evening, the film had managed to sell only around 6,500 tickets across India’s major multiplex chains: PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis.

This modest figure suggests limited pre-release excitement among audiences. Even with a slight bump in overnight sales, industry insiders report that the advance bookings remained underwhelming going into release day.

Trade analysts estimate a conservative Day 1 collection between ₹5–7 crore, depending heavily on walk-ins and word-of-mouth traction. Whether the film can recover ground over the weekend will depend on how well audiences respond to Rajkummar Rao’s dark transformation and the film’s gritty narrative.

• Whether you’re in it for action, storytelling, or simply Rajkummar Rao’s intensity, Maalik promises a slow-burn gangster drama with substance. The stakes are high, and with both performance and production value backing it, this one could become a surprise hit.

Maalik is now playing in theatres across India.
Will Rudra rise or fall? And will Rao’s risky shift into dark cinema pay off? Watch the power struggle unfold — only in Maalik.