Directed by Pulkit, Maalik hit theatres on July 11, 2025, placing Rajkummar Rao at the center of a gritty crime saga unlike any he has taken on before. After his turn in Bhool Chuk Maaf, Rao returns in an entirely new avatar — an intense, brooding gangster emerging from the shadows of 1980s Allahabad (now Prayagraj).
Set against the grime and grind of small-town politics and ambition, this marks his most commercial mass-action attempt to date. Yet, despite the promise of scale, violence, and a dark emotional core, the film struggles to rise above formulaic storytelling and tired tropes, leaving a hollow shell where a compelling character study could have been.
Maalik: Plot
Set in 1988, Maalik tells the story of Deepak (Rajkummar Rao), a humble, soft-spoken young man from a lower-middle-class family in Allahabad. He lives with his father, a schoolteacher, and is known in the community for being sincere and obedient. But when a violent incident involving local political goons results in his father’s public humiliation and eventual death, Deepak’s life takes a sharp turn.
The police refuse to take action, and the system protects the culprits. Left shattered and powerless, Deepak becomes disillusioned with the idea of justice. This is when he comes into contact with Shaukeen bhai (Saurabh Shukla), a small-time fixer who introduces him to the power corridors of the city’s crime network. What starts as a means of survival soon becomes an obsession with control and dominance.
Deepak begins by collecting bribes and fixing tenders for local politicians. Slowly, he forms his own gang and starts challenging established players in the underworld. His methods are swift and brutal, and his ability to think several steps ahead earns him the nickname Maalik – the master.
Meanwhile, he develops a quiet romance with Shalini (Manushi Chhillar), a kind-hearted schoolteacher who is unaware of his real identity. Their moments together offer Deepak a temporary escape from his growing monstrosity. But as his criminal empire expands, it becomes impossible to keep his two worlds apart.
Inspector Prabhu Das (Prosenjit Chatterjee), a principled and relentless cop, begins pursuing Deepak, vowing to end his reign. What follows is a tense game of chase, betrayal, and power struggle. Deepak’s old allies begin to turn against him, and a larger political conspiracy reveals that he was always a pawn in someone else’s game.
As the noose tightens, Deepak attempts one last act of redemption — trying to save Shalini from being dragged into his chaos. But it’s too late. A violent confrontation ensues, leading to a bloody climax in which Deepak, cornered and betrayed, chooses to go down fighting. The film ends with a freeze-frame of Deepak, bloodied and broken, but still standing tall, as police sirens echo in the distance.
Maalik: Performances
The most compelling reason to watch Maalik is Rajkummar Rao. He throws himself into the role of Deepak with fierce commitment and completely sheds his previous screen personas. There is a visible transformation in his body language, speech patterns, and intensity. He navigates Deepak’s journey from quiet innocence to moral darkness with raw conviction. Even in moments where the writing feels underwhelming, Rao’s performance keeps you watching.
Manushi Chhillar brings sincerity and softness to the role of Shalini. She radiates warmth in her scenes, especially in the early moments of her relationship with Deepak. However, the screenplay gives her very little to do beyond serving as Deepak’s emotional anchor. Her arc remains frustratingly shallow, and her presence in the second half feels more symbolic than substantial. This will be her 6th consecutive disaster in a row!
Prosenjit Chatterjee plays Inspector Prabhu Das with gravitas. He brings a calm yet commanding presence to the screen, though his character lacks the narrative detailing needed to become truly memorable. The ideological conflict between him and Deepak remains largely implied rather than explored.
Anshumaan Pushkar, Swanand Kirkire, and Saurabh Shukla round out the supporting cast with solid, if brief, appearances. Saurabh Shukla, in particular, shines in the first half as a manipulative underworld facilitator. However, most supporting characters are denied full arcs and exist to push Deepak’s journey forward.
Maalik: Analysis
At its core, Maalik attempts to be a sweeping tale about the making of a gangster and the cost of unchecked ambition. The film sets up an emotional foundation early on, showing Deepak as a sincere young man wronged by the system. His descent into crime could have been both tragic and riveting. But the storytelling never digs deep enough to unpack his psychological unraveling.
The screenplay is structurally conventional, relying on familiar beats — betrayal by close allies, the struggle for territory, a doomed romance, and a climactic standoff with law enforcement. There’s very little that feels new in how the story unfolds. Every turn in the plot is predictable, and key emotional moments pass by without lasting impact.
Despite the ambitious runtime of nearly 152 minutes, the film rarely slows down to reflect. The pacing moves too quickly to build tension, yet too slowly to keep viewers fully engaged. The second half, in particular, feels repetitive, rehashing the same conflicts in different settings. Characters frequently appear, deliver plot-driving lines, and disappear without meaningful development.
Visually, the film gets the texture of the 1980s right. The production design, costume, and color palette all contribute to an immersive world. The cinematography occasionally achieves striking compositions, especially during the action set-pieces. However, these technical strengths are never matched by the emotional or narrative heft needed to make them matter.
The music, by Sachin–Jigar, serves its purpose in the background but lacks memorability. The songs are placed more for mood than melody, and none stand out as individual moments.
Where the film stumbles most is in its thematic exploration. Maalik does not ask hard questions about power, morality, or the cost of violence. It doesn’t challenge the viewer to consider the choices Deepak makes or how they reflect a broader societal decay. It flirts with these ideas, but the execution remains surface-level. It is very poor cousin of Shah Rukh Khan’s well made gangster saga Raees.
The final act, which should have brought all the threads together in a powerful emotional climax, instead feels rushed. The death and violence come fast, but the meaning behind them is lost. Deepak’s end is not cathartic or tragic — it’s simply inevitable.
The biggest culprit of the film is not Maalik but director himself! Pulkit directed a decent small ott film Maroon, another decent ott film Bhakshak and a terrible ott film Dedh Bigha Zameen. His Saif Ali Khan film Kartavya still rotting in canes for last 3-4 years. Now he makes a terrible debut with Maalik despite having good bunch of actors and budget at disposal. Ott films don’t have accountability of box office and every one becomes a director who can befriend an actor or a platform executive. But at box office, director is defined by numbers and that’s what happened with Vishal Furia with Maa last week and now Pulkit delivers a terrible half baked wannabe gangster film Maalik inspired from million of films.
Maalik: Verdict
Maalik had the potential to be a significant milestone in Rajkummar Rao’s career and in the gangster genre. It had the scale, the backdrop, and the lead performance to build something memorable. But despite these assets, the film never manages to rise above mediocrity.
Rao delivers one of his most physically and emotionally intense performances, but he is left stranded by a script that doesn’t match his ambition. The film’s world looks lived-in and dangerous, but its storytelling feels manufactured and emotionally distant.
The supporting cast is capable but underutilized. The emotional beats are present but undercooked. The themes are hinted at but never interrogated.
For viewers who enjoy gritty crime dramas and are drawn to Rao’s charisma, there may be momentary rewards. But in terms of storytelling, character depth, and lasting impact, Maalik is a missed opportunity. It aims high, but lands far short.
Maalik: Rating
Critics Rating: 1/5
Box Office Rating: 1/5
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