The Legacy of a Don: Starring Rajkummar Rao (Left) as Deepak a.k.a “Maalik” and Prosenjit Chatterjee (Right) as Superintendent of Police (SP) Prabhu Das
“Maalik Paida Nahi Huye To Kya, Ban To Sakte Hain”, meaning “So what if I am not born a king, I can become one”. Time for vengeance with intimidation and heavy action! Hindi cinema presents Rajkummar Rao in a completely new light as a gangster who rises to power upon facing political and social obstacles.
Titled “Maalik”, translated as “The Owner”, or better referred to as “The King”, this violent gangster drama features Rao as the titular lead alongside Manushi Chhillar as his on-screen wife and Prosenjit Chatterjee as police officer Prabhu Das. Produced by Kumar Taurani and co-written and directed by Pulkit, Maalik made its theatrical debut on July 11, 2025.
Born To Rule — “Raaj Karega Maalik”: Presenting Rajkummar Rao and Manushi Chhillar

Maalik (2025) – The King Of The Crime World: A Violent Tale Of Vengeance and Betrayal (Synopsis)
The crime world is subject to authority and power. A powerful crime boss defeats his weaker rivals to take over the underworld’s throne as the “King”. He reigns and operates his criminal empire till he gets defeated. That’s how Deepak (Rajkummar Rao) rose to power to become the “Maalik” of the underworld from an ordinary man owing to his socially disturbed background. Violent threats and brutal murders follow, and Maalik seemed unstoppable until a suspended encounter specialist, Prabhu Das (Prosenjit Chatterjee), was called to deal with him.
Witness The Dark Side Of Power And Politics In Maalik (2025) Official Trailer:

The Good:
The Reign of Terror: Rajkummar Rao as the fearsome don Maalik
A fiery, energetic, and massy gangster saga that involves blood, gore, and lots of violence. The story is about an ordinary man’s rise to power in the criminal world, driven by the social tensions he faces. You would probably see Rajkummar Rao for the first time in such a violent and gruesome role. He was earlier used to doing comical love stories and has unbelievably transitioned to fit into the shoes of a rugged and ruthless gangster.
Of course, social inequality is prevalent in India, and that’s what this film is based upon. So, it can raise awareness and can act as a great eye-opener. The screenplay’s intensity will keep you thrilled till the end. The action sequences are raw, and the screenplay takes an unpredictable betrayal twist in the end, which will startle you. Rajkummar Rao has a massive screen presence, and this movie rests entirely on his shoulders. Prosenjit Chatterjee performed quite well as a fearsome yet corrupt police officer, although his character lacked screen time.
Huma Qureshi In The Dance Track “Dil Thaam Ke” From Maalik

Like the action, the dialogues in Maalik are extraordinarily powerful, which can make you cheer and applaud. Maalik tells his father, “Hum Majboor Baap Ka Beta Hain, Kismat Thi Humaari. Par Aapko Majboot Beta Ka Baap Banna Padega, Kismat Hain Aapki”, meaning “It was my destiny to become the son of a weak father, and yours is to become the father of a strong son”.
Mind it that there are no heroes in Maalik. It’s a villain versus another villain. It’s all about gaining and retaining power and demolishing opponents. For people who enjoy violent action, terror, and chills, this is the movie for you. The superb cinematography gives a typical 1980s dark essence of the crime world, and that adds to the thrill. Even though the movie consumes 2 hours and 30 minutes, its screenplay is favorably fast-paced with fairly competent editing.
Rajkummar Rao and Manushi Chhillar In The Romantic Track “Naamumkin”

The Bad:

I found the emotional aspect to be lacking in certain parts. I mean, you know that Maalik is a villain, right? How can someone gain sympathy for a bad guy? During a tragic downfall, the audience would say, “Good riddance!” However, you might feel sorry for this criminal during a scene where his pregnant wife was killed by his rivals. That made him even more vengeful and murderous.
There was a slow spot in the screenplay that showed the early life of the protagonist and how he transitioned into the crime world as Maalik. Honestly, that particular sequence lacked proper presentation and could have been shortened a bit to avoid boredom.
From The Time When The Raging Criminal Used To Be An Ordinary Man Named Deepak: The Bouncy Track “Affair” From Maalik Featuring Rajkummar Rao and Manushi Chhillar

The Verdict: Care For Some Slashy Action Within A Suspenseful Story? Then Go For “Maalik”!

This is no “Gangs of Wasseypur”. Maalik’s life is suspenseful. You never know what’s going to happen next and what will be the fate of Maalik until the end. That will keep you engrossed throughout the movie. Slashing, raw, and violent fights every now and then, along with unforeseen happenings throughout, make Maalik captivating for action and suspense lovers.
Unfortunately, the gangster drama franchise in Bollywood might take a toll because of the poor openings Maalik has faced in theaters. A highly anticipated gangster drama, “Mirzapur: The Film” is all set to be released in 2026, which will be based on the popular web series “Mirzapur”. Maalik’s setback may be a warning sign that Indian audiences are not very impressed by Bollywood’s gangster dramas. This negativity of the audience towards gangster stories can impact the Box Office performance of “Mirzapur: The Film” upon its release.
The Rise And Fall Of A Don — Maalik (2025) Official Teaser:

Acting – 9.5/10

Cinematography/Visual Effects – 9/10

Plot/Screenplay – 8/10

Setting/Theme – 8.5/10

Watchability – 8/10

Rewatchability – 5/10

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The Gripping Story Of A Fearsome Crime Boss: Witness Rajkummar Rao In His Gangster Avatar In “Maalik”!
Encounter dark politics, terror, and vengeance. When the common man’s patience and sufferings get tested to the extent where there is a point of no return, he gets compelled to step in the world of crime. Watch out for Rajkummar Rao as he takes on his rivals to become the undisputed king of the crime world, Maalik!

Pros
Overall, fast paced, action packed, and engaging screenplay
Surprising climax twist
Dark and thrilling cinematography
Raises awareness against social inequality in India

Cons
Fails to build emotional connection owing to the negative nature of the protagonist’s character
Certain sequences depicting the early life of the protagonist may appear slow

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