‘Maalik’, starring Rajkummar Rao and Manushi Chhillar, collected ₹4.02 crore nett domestically on its opening day, per a press release. Directed by Pulkit, known for “Bhakshak”, this action thriller set in 1980s Allahabad delves into ambition and survival in a gritty underworld.

Despite a modest advance booking of 6,500 tickets across major chains like PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis, the film outperformed Vikrant Massey’s ‘Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan’ (₹0.32 crore) and John Abraham’s ‘The Diplomat’ (₹4 crore), but fell short of Rao’s ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ (₹7 crore) and Hollywood’s ‘Superman’ (₹7 crore).

Rao’s intense performance as a gangster has drawn praise, though mixed reviews criticize the film’s clichéd plot and uneven pacing. With a ₹54 crore budget, ‘Maalik’ needs ₹60-70 crore to break even, relying on weekend word-of-mouth to compete in a crowded July slate, including ‘Metro… In Dino’ and ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’.

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Produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, the film features music by Sachin-Jigar and Ketan Sodha.

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