Rajkummar Rao’s latest film ‘Maalik’ is doing good at the box office, defying midweek slumps and holding its ground in cinemas.
The action drama collected ₹1.98 crore nett on Wednesday, pushing its total to ₹21 crore nett in India. With this pace, the film is headed toward a strong finish for its first week.
Despite heavy competition from other big releases, ‘Maalik’ has found its audience, thanks largely to Rao’s powerful portrayal of a man navigating the dangerous world of crime, loyalty, and politics in 1980s Allahabad.
The film, directed by Pulkit presents an intense narrative of ambition, violence, and survival. Produced by Kumar Taurani of Tips Films and Jay Shewakramani of Northern Lights Films, ‘Maalik’ serves up a tale of power struggles in the heartland of India.
At the center of the story is Deepak (played by Rao), a young man from a humble farming background. His life spirals into chaos when his father, portrayed by veteran actor Rajendra Gupta, is brutally injured while trying to protect his employer’s land from local goons.
Fueled by rage and desperation, Deepak retaliates by hunting down and killing the attacker, known as Langda. This act marks his entry into the criminal world.
Deepak soon becomes “Maalik”, the master of his own empire. But power doesn’t come easy. He finds himself entangled in a web of rival gangs, corrupt politicians, and personal demons. The film introduces a host of characters who orbit around Maalik’s rising influence.
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These include Swanand Kirkire as a shrewd MLA, Saurabh Shukla as the mentor-like Dadda, Saurabh Sachdeva as a cunning business rival, and Anshumaan Pushkar as his loyal right-hand man Badaun.
Adding emotional weight to the story is Maalik’s relationship with his wife Shalini, played by Manushi Chhillar. Shalini tries to pull him away from the life of crime, especially when she discovers she’s pregnant. But for Maalik, leaving the underworld isn’t as simple as walking away.
The stakes rise further when Prabhu Das, a suspended cop played by Prosenjit Chatterjee, comes back into action with one mission: bring Maalik down. What follows is a dangerous cat-and-mouse game filled with betrayals, shifting loyalties, and brutal confrontations.