Mumbai, July 11, 2025 – Maalik, the much-anticipated action thriller starring Rajkummar Rao in a never-seen-before gangster avatar, is struggling to create pre-release buzz where it matters most—the ticket windows.
Despite Rao’s significant image shift from small-town simplicity to blood-soaked brawn, early indicators suggest Maalik might not enjoy the grand opening expected from a commercial mass entertainer.
Advance Bookings Disappoint
The advance booking for Maalik opened just a day and a half before release. While last-minute surges are common in India’s moviegoing culture, Maalik has sold only around 6,500 tickets across major multiplex chains like PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis.
This number falls sharply behind expectations, especially for a film aimed at mass audiences. Industry insiders note that even a mild uptick in late sales won’t push the film anywhere close to the kind of opening its genre demands.
Opening Day Prediction: Far Behind the Pack
Given the tepid advance booking response, Maalik is expected to open with a collection in the range of ₹2-4 crore, according to trade sources. The optimistic forecast places it at ₹4 crore, while more conservative voices see it struggling to touch ₹2 crore.
To put things in perspective:
Rajkummar Rao’s recent time-loop comedy Bhool Chuk Maaf opened at ₹7.2 crore.
Sunny Deol’s mid-budget action flick Jaat stormed in with ₹9 crore on Day 1.
Maalik may not even manage half of either.
This slow start is particularly worrying given that the film reportedly needs to collect around ₹60-70 crore domestically to be considered a hit.
About the Film
Directed by Pulkit, Maalik features an ensemble cast including Manushi Chhillar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Saurabh Shukla. It marks Rao’s debut in a full-blown action role, playing a morally ambiguous gangster navigating the underworld with fire and fury.
While the trailer generated some intrigue, critics had mixed reactions to the film’s positioning, calling it a gamble for a star better known for nuanced, grounded performances.
Can Word of Mouth Save the Day?
In the past, Rajkummar Rao has delivered sleeper hits powered by strong storytelling and performances. Whether Maalik can ride that wave remains to be seen. But without a strong opening weekend, the road to success will be an uphill battle.
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