Here’s a first-look poster from Maalik (2025)—the gritty action-thriller starring Rajkummar Rao and Manushi Chhillar, set in the underworld of late-1980s Allahabad (Prayagraj).

Overview: Maalik (2025)

Title: Maalik
Genre: Action thriller / Crime drama
Release Date: 11 July 2025 WikipediaIndiatimesNavbharat Times
Director: Pulkit (co-writer with Jyotsana Nath) Wikipedia
Producers: Kumar Taurani & Jay Shewakramani WikipediaIndiatimes
Runtime: Approx. 152 minutes (2 hrs 32 min) WikipediaThe Times of India
Language: Hindi
Box Office Gross: ₹26.3 crore Wikipedia

Cast Highlights

• Rajkummar Rao as Deepak / Maalik (central figure—a farmer’s son turned notorious gangster) WikipediaThe Times of India

• Prosenjit Chatterjee as Prabhu Das, the suspended cop on Maalik’s trail WikipediaThe Times of India

• Manushi Chhillar as Shalini, Maalik’s wife and moral anchor WikipediaThe Times of India

• Saurabh Shukla as mentor-turned-politician Shankar Singh (“Dadda”)

• Swanand Kirkire, Saurabh Sachdeva, Anshumaan Pushkar, Rajendra Gupta, Baljinder Kaur, Huma Qureshi (in an item number) rounding out the ensemble WikipediaYouTube

Plot Snapshot

Set against the socio-political backdrop of Allahabad in the late 1980s, the story follows Deepak, a humble farmer’s son who transforms into the ruthless criminal overlord “Maalik.” His journey begins with an act of vengeance that propels him into the underworld. He builds an empire while navigating betrayals and power plays involving politicians, rival gangs, and law enforcement. Meanwhile, his wife Shalini implores him to leave the criminal life behind as he faces mounting threats, especially from the determined cop Prabhu Das. Wikipedia

Reception: What Critics & Audiences Said

Critical Response: Mixed to Negative

• Times of India: A lackluster gangster drama with a clichéd narrative; Rajkummar Rao’s performance raised the film slightly. Rating: 2/5 The Times of India

• Moneycontrol: Promising start, but soon loses focus with muddled plot and tonal confusion. Rao’s reinvention felt forced. Rating likely 2/5 Moneycontrol

• The Week: Credits Rao’s energy and Prosenjit’s return, but the film relies heavily on formula. 2/5 The Week

• Indian Express: Describes the movie as too long, predictable, and by-the-numbers. Rao tries hard, but the material doesn’t match his effort. Rating: 1.5/5 The Indian Express

• Popcorn Reviewss: Critiques the dialogues, background score, and cinematography as uninspired—calls the film a snoozefest Popcorn Reviewss

Some Positive Takes

• Filmosity: Ragged at times, but worth watching for Rao’s powerful performance and realistic visuals. Rating: 3.5/5 Filmosity

• International News and Views: Highlights Rao’s return to adult-themed cinema and notes the film is visually gripping despite a predictable story INVC

Audience Buzz

• Twitter users praised Rao’s charismatic gangster makeover, calling it “electrifying” with “whistle-worthy dialogues” and an engaging screenplay The Times of India

• Jagran and audience reviews also emphasized Rai’s standout performance and emotional intensity The Daily Jagran

Box Office & Streaming Info

• Box Office: The film’s appeal waned quickly; over 11 days, it collected ₹23.87 crore, slightly below expectations, overshadowed by competition from Saiyaara The Times of India

• OTT Release: Maalik is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video as of 22 August 2025 The Economic Times

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