Maalik

Maalik

Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Pulkit
Produced by	Kumar Taurani, Jay Shewakramani
Screenplay by
Dialogues by
Story by
Starring	Rajkummar Rao, Prosenjit Chatterjee
Music by	Sachin–Jigar
Cinematography	Harendra Singh
Edited by	Pranav Mistry
Production company	Tips Films, Northern Lights Films
Distributed by	Pen Marudhar Entertainment
Release date	July 11, 2025
Running time	137 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi
Budget
Box office

Maalik (translated as Owner) is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Pulkit. The film is produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani under the banners of Tips Films and Northern Lights Films.

The movie features Rajkummar Rao in the lead role, portraying a powerful and intense character. He is joined by veteran actor Prosenjit Chatterjee and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, who play significant supporting roles.

Set against a gritty and fast-paced backdrop, Maalik explores themes of power, justice, and revenge. The film combines gripping storytelling with high-octane action sequences.

Maalik was released theatrically on 11 July 2025 across India. Upon release, it received mixed reviews from film critics, with praise for the performances and cinematography, but some criticism for its screenplay and pacing.

Plot

The story of Maalik takes place in the late 1980s in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. It follows Deepak (played by Rajkummar Rao), a young man from a farming family. His life changes forever when his father (Rajendra Gupta) is badly injured while trying to stop some people from illegally taking over his employer's land.

In anger and pain, Deepak decides to take revenge. He finds and kills the man responsible, a goon named Langda. This act marks the beginning of Deepak’s journey into the world of crime.

After the killing, Deepak takes on the name "Maalik" (meaning master or owner) and begins to build his own criminal empire. He becomes powerful in the chaotic political and criminal world of Allahabad. Along the way, he interacts with key figures like:

Balhar Singh (Swanand Kirkire), a strong local MLA,

Shankar Singh a.k.a. Dadda (Saurabh Shukla), his mentor,

Chandrashekhar (Saurabh Sachdeva), a business rival.

Even as he rises in power, Maalik remains close to his family — especially his wife Shalini (Manushi Chhillar), who keeps asking him to leave his violent lifestyle, especially after she becomes pregnant. Maalik also depends on his loyal right-hand man, Badaun (Anshumaan Pushkar).

But as Maalik grows stronger, so do his enemies. A suspended police officer, Prabhu Das (Prosenjit Chatterjee), is brought back to catch him. The film follows Maalik’s intense fight for power, the challenges he faces from his enemies, betrayals from within, and the heavy price he pays for the path he has chosen.

Cast

• Rajkummar Rao as Deepak / Maalik
• Prosenjit Chatterjee as Prabhu Das
• Manushi Chhillar as Shalini
• Huma Qureshi as Mallika
• Saurabh Sachdeva as Chandrashekhar
• Saurabh Shukla as Minister Shankar Singh
• Anshumaan Pushkar as Badaun
• Swanand Kirkire as Balhar Singh
• Rajendra Gupta as Bindeshwar, Deepak / Maalik's father
• Baljinder Kaur as Parvati, Deepak / Maalik's mother
• Yogi Raj as Langda

Production

On 4 July 2024, it was announced that the film's shooting would start in September 2024, mainly in Lucknow and Varanasi. To get ready for his tough role, Rajkummar Rao started building a stronger and more muscular body. The first shot (muhurat) of the film was taken on 25 August 2024 in Pathakpur village. The film's action scenes were designed by Vikram Dahiya. On 31 August 2024, which was also his 40th birthday, Rao officially announced the film with a poster.

Soundtrack

The film's music is composed by Sachin–Jigar, and the lyrics are written by Amitabh Bhattacharya. The background score for the movie is given by Ketan Sodha. The first song from the film, titled "Naamumkin", was released on 10 June 2025, followed by the second song "Dil Thaam Ke" on 20 June 2025. The third track, "Raaj Karega Maalik", came out on 4 July 2025.

Release

The film Maalik was released in cinemas across India on 11 July 2025.

Marketing

A special event before the release of Maalik was held on 7 July 2025 at Raj Mandir Cinema, Jaipur.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, 23% of 13 critics gave positive reviews. The average rating was 4.7 out of 10.

• Taran Adarsh (Bollywood Hungama) – ★★★★½: Called it a powerful musical love story with great performances and direction.
• Rishil Jogani (Pinkvilla) – ★★★½: Praised the emotional depth and strong performances.
• Rishabh Suri (Hindustan Times) – ★★★½: Said the movie hits emotional notes well, even if the story is familiar.
• Radhika Sharma (NDTV) – ★★★: Said it follows a classic love story formula but still connects with viewers.
• Vinamra Mathur (Firstpost) – ★★★: Said the lead pair does well in a flawed but touching love story.
• Vineeta Kumar (India Today) – ★★★½: Said the film is emotional and entertaining despite some flaws.
• Kusumika Das (Times Now) – ★★½: Praised the acting but felt the film didn’t fully achieve its potential.
• Aishwarya Vasudevan (OTTplay) – ★★★: Said it doesn’t offer anything new but is full of heart.
• Jaya Dwivedie (India TV) – ★★★: Described it as a slow-paced love story that tries to touch hearts.