Dropping his image as a comedic character and the relatable common man, Rajkummar Rao is set to deliver a tremorous shift in his cinematic journey, with his upcoming crime-drama thriller ‘Maalik’. Starring Manushi Chillar in the lead role and Prosenjit Chatterjee as the antagonist, this will be the first time the audience will be able to witness Rajkummar Rao in such a gritty role, playing a gangster. Continue reading to know when ‘Maalik’ is hitting the cinemas and who else stars in the film.
With its intense and mind-boggling narrative and powerful yet transformative performances, ‘Maalik’ is poised to be a significant release, captivating viewers with its blend of drama, suspense, and brutal political realities. So, mark your calendars to experience never-before-seen performances, endless action, and drama with a blend of romance. ‘Maalik’ is all set to hit the silver screen on 11 July 2025.
The powerful ensemble cast is strategically chosen to bring the gritty and powerful narrative of the film to life. Led by an immensely versatile actor, Rajkummar Rao, and supported by a mix of established names and rising stars, this movie has raised the expectations of film critics. Following is the ensemble starcast of ‘Maalik’:
Rajkummar Rao as Maalik
Prosenjit Chatterjee as a Police Officer
Manushi Chhillar as Vidya (Maalik’s wife)
Saurabh Shukla as Minister Shankar Singh
Medha Shankr as Komal
Swanand Kirkire
Anshuman Pushkar
Huma Qureshi as Mallika (cameo appearance)
In an era when featuring true crime stories in Bollywood movies, web series, and OTT releases has become a trend, the question ‘Is ‘Maalik’ Based on a true story?’ is arising in the minds of viewers. Well, even though this genre of adapting true events in Bollywood movies seems more interesting and engages more viewers, that is not everything Bollywood consists of. Maalik is not a movie that takes inspiration from true events; instead, it involves a fictional storyline and fictional characters. It takes us back to 1980s Allahabad, following the journey of a tough guy who climbs his way up from the streets to become a powerful gangster, even dreaming of getting into politics. However, despite being a fictional and imaginary work, the story of Maalik takes inspiration from different real-life situations and people you might have heard about, but it is not entirely about one specific, documented true story or person.
Some discussions online have drawn comparisons to other gangster films like ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ and ‘Nayagan’, because of the trailer, which feels highly familiar with these popular crime-gangster dramas. These discussions suggest how desperate the fans are to watch another action-packed gangster drama on the big screen with such an ensemble cast.
The trailer, which was released on 1 July 2025, left the viewers shocked and awestruck as it portrays Rajkummar Rao in a truly menacing avatar, transforming from an ordinary man to a powerful gangster who isn’t afraid to use violence to achieve his political ambitions. The visuals are gritty, packed with high-octane action sequences, and the background score perfectly amplifies the dramatic tension. Directed by Pulkit and produced by Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, features a promising storyline and explores the themes of power, ambition, and violence as the protagonist navigates the underworld.
During the trailer launch event, Rajkummar Rao spoke about a dialogue from the film that resonated with him deeply, “Maalik paida nahi hue toh kya, bann toh sakte hain” he shared that this dialogue is not just for his character but for everyone. He also talked about his journey as an outsider in the industry and said, “most of us weren’t born with a silver spoon”. Talking about his character in the movie, he exclaimed, “This is the first time I’m doing such a hard-hitting role. It really pushed me as an actor and let me explore a darker, more intense side.”