Rajkummar Rao, celebrated for his versatile performances in content-driven films like Newton and Stree, takes a bold step into the mass-action genre with Maalik, which hit theaters on July 11, 2025. Directed by Pulkit and featuring a stellar ensemble including Manushi Chhillar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Saurabh Shukla, Huma Qureshi, and Anshumaan Pushkar, the action thriller promised a gritty tale of a gangster’s rise in 1980s Allahabad. However, early box office indicators paint a grim picture, with Maalik selling just 6,500 tickets in advance bookings across major national cinema chains—PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis—signaling a lackluster opening. Trade analysts predict an opening day collection of ₹1.5–4 crore, a significant drop from Rao’s previous release, Bhool Chuk Maaf (₹7.2 crore), and Sunny Deol’s Jaat (₹9 crore). This article delves into the film’s box office prospects, challenges, and broader implications for Rao’s career and the mid-budget action genre.
Advance Booking Trends: A Slow Start
Advance bookings for Maalik opened on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 12 PM, a day and a half before its theatrical release. By Thursday evening at 5:30 PM, the film had sold approximately 4,000 tickets across PVR, INOX, and Cinepolis, with final pre-sales reaching only 6,500 tickets by the end of the booking window. Industry expectations had pegged pre-sales at 10,000–12,000 tickets, but the momentum failed to build, with Cinepolis contributing just 1,000 tickets and PVR-INOX accounting for 3,800. In contrast, Rao’s Bhool Chuk Maaf, a time-loop romantic comedy released on May 23, 2025, sold 30,000 tickets in final advance bookings, underscoring Maalik’s underwhelming performance.
The low ticket sales reflect a lack of pre-release buzz, despite an initially well-received trailer that showcased Rao in a stylized, intense gangster avatar reminiscent of Animal and Pushpa. Promotional efforts, led by producers Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani under Tips Films and Northern Lights Films, remained routine, failing to generate significant traction on social media or at the grassroots level. Posts on X, such as @SumitkadeI’s optimistic note about Rao’s performance being a “major talking point,” have not translated into ticket sales, while negative early reviews, like @Bolly_BoxOffice’s scathing “DISASTER” rating, may further dampen audience interest.
Box Office Predictions: A Modest Opening
Trade analysts project Maalik’s opening day collection at ₹1.5–4 crore, with optimistic estimates leaning toward ₹3–4 crore and conservative ones predicting under ₹2 crore. This places Maalik at roughly 50% or less of the opening day hauls of Bhool Chuk Maaf (₹7.2 crore) and Jaat (₹9 crore), both mid-budget films that benefited from stronger pre-release buzz and star power. The film’s performance is expected to rely heavily on spot bookings, particularly in mass-market single screens in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, where its gritty action and Uttar Pradesh setting may resonate. However, the absence of a major co-star to bolster marketability and a crowded July release slate pose significant challenges.
To be considered a box office hit, Maalik needs to gross ₹60–70 crore domestically, a tall order given its sluggish start. The film’s 2-hour-32-minute runtime and ‘A’ rating from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), due to the modification of three dialogues, may further limit its audience to adults, unlike Rao’s recent family-friendly hits like Stree 2 (₹625.70 crore) and Bhool Chuk Maaf (₹75 crore+). Early reviews have been mixed to negative, with @NishitShawHere criticizing the “unconvincing” character writing and @UmairSandu calling it a “crap action flick,” potentially hindering word-of-mouth momentum critical for a mid-budget film.
Competitive Landscape and Challenges
Maalik faces stiff competition in a crowded July release window, clashing with new releases like Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan and the Hollywood blockbuster Superman, alongside holdovers such as Metro In Dino (₹25 crore in week one), Jurassic World: Rebirth (₹50 crore in week one), and F1: The Movie. Distributed by Pen Marudhar across approximately 1,500 screens nationwide, Maalik struggles for screen allocation against bigger commercial releases, particularly in urban multiplexes where Superman is expected to dominate. The film’s niche appeal as a gangster drama, despite its high-octane action and ensemble cast, limits its draw compared to franchise films or star-driven blockbusters.
The July release calendar is described as a “ruthless box office race,” with films typically having a 7–10 day window to establish traction before new releases overshadow them. Maalik’s urban multiplex turnout, particularly in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and the NCR, will be crucial, but its 19.36% Hindi occupancy on opening day suggests limited initial traction. In contrast, Bhool Chuk Maaf achieved 43.96% evening show occupancy in Chennai, highlighting a stronger urban pull.
Comparison with Bhool Chuk Maaf and Jaat
Bhool Chuk Maaf, a romantic comedy released on May 23, 2025, overcame a legal tussle with PVR INOX to secure a two-week theatrical window, ultimately grossing ₹27.75 crore over its opening weekend and surpassing ₹75 crore lifetime. Its advance bookings reached 30,000 tickets, bolstered by a “Buy-One-Get-One” offer and a family-friendly appeal, contrasting sharply with Maalik’s 6,500 tickets and adult-oriented content. Jaat, a mid-budget mass action film starring Sunny Deol, opened at ₹9 crore, leveraging Deol’s established action-hero persona and mass-market appeal, which Maalik lacks despite Rao’s versatility.
Maalik’s projected 47–58% drop from Bhool Chuk Maaf’s opening (₹7.2 crore) reflects its failure to replicate the buzz of Rao’s earlier successes. Unlike Bhool Chuk Maaf, which benefited from Maddock Films’ promotional muscle and a lighter genre, Maalik’s gritty tone and limited marketing have struggled to connect with audiences. @BOWorldwide on X called Maalik a “100% flop” unless weekend walk-ins surge, reflecting pessimism about its prospects.
Strategic and Career Implications for Rajkummar Rao
Maalik marks Rao’s first foray into the action-thriller genre, a departure from his small-town, content-driven roles in films like Stree 2 (₹625.70 crore) and Srikanth (₹50 crore+). The film’s trailer, praised for its “whistle-worthy dialogues” and “top-notch action” by @Rahulrautwrites, initially raised hopes of a breakout mass hit. However, its failure to sustain buzz post-trailer, coupled with routine promotional efforts, has dimmed its prospects. Rao’s attempt to channel the raw intensity of Animal or Pushpa has drawn comparisons, but he clarified in a Bollywood Bubble interview, “We’re not trying to replicate anyone. We’re telling a story that’s raw, real, and rooted in its own world.”
The film’s ‘A’ rating, Rao’s first in seven years since Trapped (2017), restricts its audience, unlike his recent U/A-rated hits. Negative early reviews, such as @Bolly_BoxOffice’s critique of “dull writing” and “forced intensity,” suggest that Rao’s performance, while intense, may not salvage a weak script. This poses a risk to Rao’s box office streak, following successes like Stree 2 and Bhool Chuk Maaf. A flop could temper expectations for his future mass-oriented projects, though his versatility ensures continued opportunities in diverse genres.
Industry and Cultural Context
Maalik’s underwhelming performance highlights challenges for mid-budget Bollywood films in 2025, where star-driven blockbusters and Hollywood releases dominate screens. The film’s 1,500-screen release, while decent, pales against larger franchises, and its niche gangster narrative struggles against broader-appeal competitors. The CBFC’s censorship of three dialogues, including “Lallan ghar chod dega tujhe,” suggests sensitivity to potentially offensive content, further limiting its mass appeal.
The film’s setting in 1980s Allahabad and its ensemble cast, including Bengali cinema icon Prosenjit Chatterjee and Manushi Chhillar as Rao’s romantic interest, aimed to blend regional authenticity with commercial flair. However, Chhillar’s limited draw, as noted in @UmairSandu’s review, and the lack of a major co-star have hindered its marketability. The competitive July slate, including Superman’s global appeal, underscores the difficulty mid-budget films face in securing audience attention.
Potential for Recovery
Despite its slow start, Maalik has a narrow window to recover through strong word-of-mouth and weekend walk-ins, particularly in single-screen theaters in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where its gangster theme may resonate. Trade analysts suggest that positive audience reactions could push the opening day to ₹3.5 crore, though negative reviews may cap it below ₹2 crore. The film’s fate hinges on its ability to convert morning show reactions into evening and weekend turnout, especially in mass belts. Posts on X, like @taran_adarsh’s praise for Rao’s “ruthless gangster” avatar, may help sustain some interest, but the consensus leans toward a “disappointing” outcome unless critical reception improves.
Conclusion
Maalik’s dismal advance bookings of 6,500 tickets and projected ₹1.5–4 crore opening mark a challenging debut for Rajkummar Rao in the action-thriller genre. Falling short of Bhool Chuk Maaf (₹7.2 crore) and Jaat (₹9 crore), the film faces an uphill battle to reach the ₹60–70 crore needed for hit status. Stiff competition, limited pre-release buzz, and mixed early reviews threaten its prospects, with its success now dependent on spot bookings and audience reception. The film underscores the risks of mid-budget Bollywood ventures in a crowded market, but Rao’s star power and the film’s gritty appeal offer a slim chance for a weekend turnaround. As the industry watches, Maalik’s performance will test the viability of non-franchise, actor-driven action films in 2025’s ruthless box office landscape.
Last Updated on: Friday, July 11, 2025 2:26 pm by Lok Ram | Published by: Lok Ram on Friday, July 11, 2025 2:26 pm | News Categories: Entertainment
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