🎬Maalik (2025) – Movie Review & Box Office Report | Rajkummar Rao’s Intense Turn as a Crime Lord

Rajkummar Rao’s Blood-Soaked Rise to Power

Blood. Power. Legacy .

Pulkit’s latest directorial venture, Maalik, hit theaters on July 11, 2025, bringing with it a hard-hitting narrative of vengeance, politics, and underworld ambition. With Rajkummar Rao at the center of this storm, the film explores the price of power—and the violence that comes with it.

🧨 Plot Summary

Set in 1980s Allahabad, the film follows Deepak, a young man from a farming family, who transforms into the feared gangster Maalik after brutally avenging an attack on his father. As his influence spreads, he gets entangled with rival criminals, local politicians, and a tough cop named Prabhu Das. With a pregnant wife urging him to change and enemies closing in, Maalik walks a razor-sharp line between loyalty and destruction.

✨ Cast Highlights

• Rajkummar Rao as Deepak / Maalik

• Prosenjit Chatterjee as Inspector Prabhu Das

• Manushi Chhillar as Shalini

• Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Saurabh Sachdeva in pivotal roles

🎭 Performance & Technical Merits

• Rajkummar Rao delivers one of his most commanding performances yet, balancing raw rage with emotional vulnerability.

• Prosenjit Chatterjee impresses as the determined cop with a moral compass.

• The 1980s vibe is captured beautifully through Anuj Rakesh Dhawan’s cinematography and Ketan Sodha’s atmospheric score.

• Though well-acted and shot, the film’s mid-section dips slightly in pace, with some formulaic gangster tropes.

💸 Box Office Report (So Far)

• Opening Day (India): ₹4.02 crore

• 4-Day Total: ₹20 crore

• Compared to Rao’s earlier 2025 success, Bhool Chuk Maaf (₹7 crore opening), Maalik opened modestly but is expected to maintain a steady run in mass markets.

📺 Where to Watch & Stream in the Future

While Maalik is currently playing in theaters, fans wondering where to stream the film later won’t have to wait too long:

🛜 Streaming Rights: As per early distribution reports, Maalik will stream exclusively on Netflix India after its theatrical window, likely in late September 2025.

📍Watch in theaters now or wait for the Netflix drop later this year.

🧾 Final Take: Should You Watch It?

Maalik may not be revolutionary, but it stands tall among recent Hindi gangster dramas thanks to Rajkummar Rao’s powerhouse performance and its politically rich narrative. For those who enjoy character-driven stories with moral grey zones, it’s a solid, gritty ride.

🎟️ Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Gritty, grounded, and carried by strong performances, Maalik is one crime saga worth experiencing, especially if you love flawed anti-heroes.

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