Rajkummar Rao’s latest cinematic outing, Maalik, marks a bold new chapter in his acting career as he dives headfirst into the gritty world of gangsters. With a strong supporting cast and a brooding trailer that promised violence, ambition, and transformation, the film had generated a fair bit of pre-release buzz. But as the curtains lifted this Friday, Maalik’s box office performance told a different story—one of a slow start, tepid audience turnout, and a long road ahead.
Underwhelming Day 1 Collections
Directed by Pulkit, Maalik hit theaters on Friday with expectations riding high, but it failed to make the impact many anticipated. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film opened with a modest collection of ₹3.35 crore on its first day. Despite Rajkummar Rao’s growing stardom and the allure of a gangster transformation, the film could not surpass the opening day numbers of his previous release, Bhool Chuk Maaf, which brought in ₹7 crore on Day 1.
The 3.35 crore figure also lags behind The Diplomat, the John Abraham starrer, which earned ₹4 crore on its debut. Comparatively, it did manage to perform better than smaller releases like Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, starring Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor, which opened to a mere ₹32 lakh.
Occupancy Rates Reflect Lukewarm Response
The film’s performance across theaters mirrored its collection numbers. Maalik registered an overall Hindi occupancy rate of just 12.86% on Friday, a worrying sign for a film with a reported budget of ₹54 crore. The day began slow, with morning shows pulling in only 6.65% occupancy. Afternoon (11.12%) and evening (11.78%) shows saw slight improvement, while the night saw a minor peak at 21.88%.
Interestingly, regions like Chennai (26.67%), Lucknow (24%), and Jaipur (22%) reported relatively better footfall. In contrast, major metropolitan markets like Mumbai (13%) and Delhi-NCR (14.25%), typically strongholds for mainstream films, failed to deliver significant numbers. This uneven distribution indicates that while some pockets of interest exist, Maalik has not yet resonated with the broader Hindi-speaking audience.
Stacked Against the Competition
Maalik didn’t just have to prove itself; it had to compete in a tightly packed release window. On the domestic front, Metro… In Dino, now in its second week, continues to hold its ground with a ₹2.25 crore Friday collection, pushing its total to ₹29.1 crore.
Hollywood has also thrown two giants into the mix. Jurassic World Rebirth, in its second week, maintained its stronghold with ₹3 crore collected on Friday, with its overall total surpassing ₹58 crore. In the meanwhile, the recently opened Superman, a superhero tentpole, flew past with ₹7 crore on the opening day, double the amount Maalik could muster.
With such tough competition, Maalik’s chances of climbing the charts will be completely reliant on favorable word-of-mouth and a healthy weekend push, something that’s becoming increasingly doubtful.
A New Avatar, But Is It Enough?
There was plenty of intrigue around Rajkummar Rao’s foray into the gangster genre, a departure from the subtle, frequently middle-class characters that he’s familiarly played. Movies such as Shahid, Trapped, and Newton had made him a powerhouse actor. In Maalik, the challenge was different. It was not so much about giving a strong performance; it was about fitting into a larger-than-life persona that Bollywood gangsters insist upon.
The supporting cast that included Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Shukla, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Swanand Kirkire, and Saurabh Sachdeva assembled a combination of old and new hands. Early reviews have been split, though. Critics and early audiences have indicated a lackluster plot, weakly developed characters, and spasmodic pacing as huge negatives. Rao’s performance has also drawn some notice, but even his turn seems to have been insufficient in transcending a poor script.
An Uphill Battle Ahead
With a budget of ₹54 crore for production, Maalik is in a tricky position. Day 1 returns indicate that the film will need to do well over the weekend and maintain the pace throughout the week to prevent becoming a box office failure. The divided opinions and tough competition at home as well as overseas only make it tougher.
But Bollywood has had its turnarounds in the past too. Movies like Stree and Drishyam 2 had small openings but went on to become box office hits, fueled by good word-of-mouth. Whether Maalik can replicate such a miracle remains to be seen, but it will certainly need a drastic shift in audience sentiment to stay afloat.
Final Word
Maalik was Rajkummar Rao’s big swing at something grittier and more commercial. Unfortunately, the first signs suggest that the gamble hasn’t paid off, at least not yet. As Saturday and Sunday numbers roll in, the film’s fate will become clearer. For now, the gangster drama has found itself on the back foot, trying to claw its way up from a disappointing debut.