Maalik Movie Review: Rajkummar Rao’s Mass Makeover Falls Flat in This Messy Action Drama

Maalik movie review: Rajkummar Rao headlines this templated gangster drama with intensity, but the film fails to rise above clichés and weak storytelling. Full review with rating and analysis.

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Maalik Movie Review

Director: Pulkit
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Manushi Chhillar, Prosenjit Chatterjee
Rating: ⭐½ (1.5/5)

Introduction: A Massy Attempt, A Messy Outcome

Rajkummar Rao, known for his powerful, nuanced performances in critically acclaimed films like Shahid, Newton, and Citylights, takes a detour into the massy action-hero territory with Maalik. Unfortunately, this attempt at becoming a rugged gangster icon falls short due to poor writing, recycled tropes, and a miscast supporting cast. Directed by Pulkit, Maalik is a loud, overlong action flick that mistakes background score for emotion and slo-mo for substance.

Plot Overview: The Rise of a Gangster

Set in Allahabad in the 1990s, Maalik follows Deepak (Rajkummar Rao), a small-town man who rises through the ranks to become a feared gangster, earning the title “Maalik”. He terrorizes politicians, defies authority, and builds a myth around himself. Standing in his way is encounter specialist Prabhudas (Prosenjit Chatterjee), a cliched cop with 98 kills under his belt and dialogue straight out of a B-grade action drama.

Alongside, Deepak juggles an emotional track involving a doting mother, a principled father, and his wife Shalini (Manushi Chhillar in a forgettable debut). The film relies heavily on flashbacks, punchlines, and exaggerated masculinity to build its narrative — none of which truly stick.

Rajkummar Rao: Out of His Element

What made Rajkummar Rao a standout star was his ability to bring believability and depth to the most ordinary characters. Whether as the earnest Shahid Azmi or the struggling father in Citylights, he has always found power in restraint. In Maalik, however, he is reduced to slow-motion walks, gun-slinging, and forced bravado.

He’s in nearly every frame — but instead of drawing us in, his presence feels like a desperate attempt to fit a mold that doesn’t suit him. Rao’s natural acting strengths — subtlety, unpredictability, and vulnerability — are lost in this templated action hero avatar.

Direction & Screenplay: All Style, No Substance

Director Pulkit seems content tracing over the outlines of earlier gangster hits like Mirzapur, KGF, and Pushpa, without adding any original flair. The action scenes are uninspired, the characters one-dimensional, and the dialogues a rehash of tired tropes. Even the flashback that aims to add emotional weight to Maalik’s violent streak arrives too late and contributes little.

There’s no narrative tension or payoff — just style for the sake of style. Even standout actors like Saurabh Shukla and Swanand Kirkire are wasted in roles that feel like afterthoughts.

Performances: A Mixed Bag

• Rajkummar Rao: Intense but miscast. His raw talent is muffled under layers of forced machismo.

• Manushi Chhillar: Largely ineffective. Her role adds little to the narrative.

• Prosenjit Chatterjee: Reduced to playing a cop caricature with little depth or menace.

• Saurabh Shukla: A decent but repetitive turn, channeling shades of his Raid character.

Cinematic References: Homage or Imitation?

The film seems desperate to remind viewers of better cinema. There are obvious callbacks to Gabbar from Sholay, Amitabh Bachchan’s angry-young-man phase, and even the rustic cool of Gangs of Wasseypur. But instead of elevating the story, these homages only emphasize how generic Maalik is by comparison.

Final Verdict: A Star Lost in the Wrong Genre

Maalik isn’t the film that Rajkummar Rao deserves — or that his audience expects from him. In trying to ride the wave of South-style mass action cinema, Maalik ends up as an identity crisis in motion. There’s no clarity in tone, no originality in execution, and no emotional core to hold it all together.

For an actor who once made the mundane magical, this foray into noise and nostalgia feels like a step backward. Rajkummar Rao may be on every poster, but Maalik forgets what made him special in the first place.

Pros:

• Rajkummar Rao’s commitment

• A few well-shot action sequences

Cons:

• Clichéd screenplay and characters

• Misuse of a talented cast

• Weak dialogues and storytelling

• Lack of emotional depth

⭐ Final Rating: 1.5/5
A disappointing detour for Rajkummar Rao in an otherwise forgettable actioner.