'Maalik' Review: Rajkummar Rao, Prosenjit Impress, But The Film Feels Like A Story We've Seen Before

Rajkummar Rao has returned to the silver screen with Maalik, and this time, he has steered away from his usual, small-town-boy persona and taken on a gangster avatar. The film hit theatres today, July 11, 2025, and Rajkummar’s transformation into the titular character, a gritty small-town man’s brutal rise to power in Allahabad’s underworld in the 1980s, is being hailed as one of his strongest performances to date. But is that enough to carry the whole film?

About the plot of Maalik: An 80s gangster drama marked by bloodshed and fragile loyalty

Maalik, directed by Pulkit and produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, stars Rajkummar Rao alongside Manushi Chillar and veteran Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, aka Bumba Da, and Saurabh Shukla in key roles. The film follows the intense and raw journey of a small-town man, ‘Amar Singh’ (played by Rajkummar Rao), as he rises from the alleys of Allahabad in the 80s to become a fierce don of the underworld. The storyline unfolds as ‘Amar’ navigates the rugged path fuelled by injustice, betrayal and personal loss, to transform into the notorious ‘Maalik’. 

Alongside ‘Amar’ on his journey is ‘Shalini’ (played by Manushi Chillar), a journalist by profession, whose relationship with him adds both vulnerability and tension as the story progresses. Meanwhile, a relentless cop, ACP ‘Vishnu Kumar’ (Prosenjit Chatterjee), is determined to bring ‘Amar’ down as he pits against his extremely powerful adversary, ‘Minister Shankar Singh’ (Saurabh Shukla). 

Maalik follows a familiar plot, minus the gritty setting

Indian cinema has tried and tested the gangster arc for years, and most of the time, it turns out to be the same storyline: poverty to power, betrayal, loss, and revenge. Filmmaker Pulkit seems to have stuck to a similar formula as 'Maalik' wrestles with cops, corrupt politicians, and gang rivals, all the while desperately clinging to the last crumb of morality and trying to shield his family. What's refreshing to see is how 'Shalini' becomes his emotional anchor, even when he keeps spiralling into violence. Regardless, the plot returns to the predictable terrain with high-stakes action sequences and overused arcs.

What are viewers and critics saying about Rajkummar Rao's Maalik?

Day 1 viewers of Maalik have already started flooding X (formerly Twitter) feeds with their largely mixed opinions of the film. While most users praised Rajkummar Rao’s acting and the film’s production value, the opinions are mixed regarding storytelling and execution. Despite the powerful cast that delivered a balanced performance, viewers argue that the film doesn’t really offer anything new. One user wrote:

“#MaalikReview (2 stars) Only watchable for #RajKummarRao’s solid performance. The rest is a dull, outdated gangster drama with weak direction and no grip. Sadly, Raj deserves better. Expected to open with a slow 1.5–2 Cr.”

Some users also described the plot as ‘dull’ and ‘outdated’ gangster drama, which doesn’t really bring anything new to the table. One user noted, “#Maalik is not a bad movie—it’s a boring one. You can joke about bad films, but this is just slow torture.” Another netizen wrote, “The first half is bombarding, and though the second half dips, overall the film is enjoyable for fans of the genre.”

All the flaws aside, the ensemble cast is the true saving grace of Maalik, a fact that's been a common ground between viewers and critics alike. Saurabh Shukla as the notorious neta, and Prosenjit Chatterjee as the suspended yet headstrong cop locked in a cat-and-mouse chase with 'Maalik', deliver excellence as expected, but with limited screen presence.  

Critics are divided in their opinions about the overall execution of the film. Firstpost has rated Maalik a mediocre 2 out of 5 stars, praising Rao’s 'most heroic form yet', but adding the storyline as a ‘tenacious but tried-and-tested crime drama’. The Indian Express has rated the film even lower, at 1.5 stars, calling it an extremely predictable and fatigued plot. India TV News, however, has rated it a solid 3 stars, praising Rajkummar Rao’s powerhouse performance and calling it a good fit for fans of gritty yet impactful stories. Currently, Maalik stands at a 4.6/5 star rating on Google based on audience reviews.  

Finally, Maalik delivers raw action, powerful performances, and an atmospheric backdrop, but the storytelling lacks originality. Unless you’re a die-hard Rajkummar fan or a lover of gritty crime dramas, Maalik might feel more like a missed opportunity than a compelling watch. If you have watched Maalik already, what was your reaction to the film?

Read Next: Ajay Devgn Reacts To The 'Finger Dance' Memes On 'Pehla Tu Duja Tu' Song, 'Ye Karna Bohot Mushkil..'

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Get App

AWESOME NEWS! Now you can download BollywoodShaadis app and never miss a story. Choose your device Android or IOS (Apple)