Showing posts with label Maalik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maalik. Show all posts
(Crisp) Movie Review: MAALIK by FENIL SETA
4:01 PM
Maalik is a UP-based gangster drama. In other words, it tells a story beaten to death. There are scenes where the makers have attempted something new and that stands out. But otherwise, it fails to entice as it's a clichéd template and narrative. Moreover, the interval comes early while the second half is very long. It might test the patience. The cliffhanger ending is very unnecessary. Rajkummar Rao, however, can never go wrong. Maalik is no exception; he rocks the show. Manushi Chhillar doesn't have much to do initially but later she is a surprise; her track provides some freshness to this film. Anshumaan Pushkar (Badaun) of 12th Fail fame leaves a huge mark and deserves to be seen more. Prosenjit Chatterjee is decent and one wishes he had more to do in the film. Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire and Saurabh Sachdeva are dependable. Rajendra Gupta (Bindeshwar; Maalik's father) is forgotten after a point. All in all, Maalik offers nothing new.
My rating - ** out of 5!
My rating - ** out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 890
11:24 PM
WILL SUPERMAN, MAALIK AND AANKHON KI GUSTAAKHIYAN CONTINUE THE MOMENTUM AT THE BOX OFFICE?
The last three weeks have been great for the film industry. It all started with Sitaare Zameen Par working at the box office. The following week, F1: The Movie emerged as a surprise hit. Maa underperformed but did pull in a significant audience. Last week's Jurassic World: Rebirth, as expected, scored a sixer. Metro...In Dino had a slow opening but the way it has held on weekdays has been a pleasant surprise.
This week, three major films are up for release, with Superman being the biggest of them. It's not as big a series in India but nevertheless, the character is popular and known among the Indian population. Also, the Western reviews have been very positive. The bookings in India have been encouraging. It'll open less than Jurassic World: Rebirth and more than F1: The Movie. In other words, an opening of Rs. 7-8 crores is expected. If the word of mouth is strong, it can have a weekend of Rs. 25 crores.
Maalik stars Rajkummar Rao in a never-before-seen action avatar. His look has been appreciated but the film has not been able to generate excitement. However, since it's in the massy zone, it'll get a lot of theatres in B and C centres. The makers have provided a discount of Rs. 100 and that should attract more people than expected. It should open at Rs. 2.50-3 crores.
Lastly, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan stars Vikrant Massey and marks the debut of Shanaya Kapoor. The film looks like a clean love story and rests on an interesting idea. However, though the awareness is there, the buzz is very limited. It is also facing show-sharing issues since there are so many exciting releases around. Even Maalik has gone through this issue.
Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan will open at around Rs. 1-2 crores and will have to have a great word of mouth to jump big time.
Few people know Rajkummar Rao is a black belt in Taekwondo. So, action wasn’t tough for him-Pulkit
9:40 AM
Surprised that Rajkummar Rao has rarely explored action before despite his background, director Pulkit breaks down the actor’s physical and mental prep for Maalik
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 30, 2025)
Look at Pulkit’s short but impressive filmography, and it’s evident that the director is driven by hard-hitting stories. His pursuit was the same when making Maalik. “For me, the most challenging part was how not to make a simple action film. I wanted to tell a story that has action,” begins the director, recognising how many Hindi actioners rely on stunts rather than story.
But that has never been Pulkit’s modus operandi. For his first theatrical release, the director has reunited with Rajkummar Rao eight years after their web series, Bose: Dead/Alive (2017), to bring a gritty action entertainer about a common man who rises through the ranks to become a gangster in Allahabad.
“Bhakshak [2024], Dedh Bigha Zameen [2024], and my upcoming film with Saif Ali Khan have all been based on real-life stories. This time, I wanted a break from reality,” he says.
While Rao attempted action before in Hit: The First Case (2022), Maalik is his first out-and-out actioner. Pulkit says that after Bose: Dead/Alive, he wanted an encore with the actor.
“Since the series, I was trying to work something out with Raj as he is an exciting actor to work with. While writing the story, I could only imagine him in the role. Raj immediately gave his nod as the film presents him in a completely different avatar. For an actor, it’s tough to step out of his comfort zone and jump into something so extreme. But Raj doesn’t get challenged easily. He prepares before he comes on sets.”
To play a feared gangster, Rao bulked up and underwent a transformation of sorts. The director shares, “Raj built his body, and grew his hair and beard for over 90 days. He is the kind of actor who will never wear a wig or fake beard. Wearing them makes an actor uncomfortable and restricts their performance. Besides the physical prep, the anger you see in his eyes started when we began our readings. Every time we met for readings, I could see the [mental] transformation taking place.”
Ask Pulkit if Rao had to train hard to pull off the stunts, and he surprises us with his answer. “He didn’t need to train at all. Few people know that Raj is a black belt in Taekwondo. So, action wasn’t tough for him. I don’t know why he hasn’t done it before.”
Another on the anvil
Besides Maalik, Pulkit has an investigative drama, titled Kartavya, in the pipeline. The gritty thriller has Saif Ali Khan playing a cop, with Sanjay Mishra and Rasika Dugal as co-stars.
Huma Qureshi opens up about her dance number in Maalik: "Why should I not express my sensual side as a woman?"
9:08 AM
Sharing an exclusive look of her dance number from Maalik, Huma Qureshi says dance numbers don’t just cater to the male gaze today, but celebrate a woman’s sexuality
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 20, 2025)
Rajkummar Rao and director Pulkit have built a world of grit and grime with their upcoming film, Maalik. Bringing a dose of glam into the actioner is Huma Qureshi, who features in the song, Maalik ki mehfil mein mallika ka swagat. Sharing the song’s first look with mid-day, ahead of its release today, the actor reveals that her love for spectacles made it an easy yes to front the dance number.
“I enjoy spectacle! I enjoy Indian films that have elaborate songs. I’ve grown up dancing on Beedi from Omkara [2006]. So, this felt like a perfect song to show who I am,” she says, before adding, “Until your song plays at a party, have you even made it?”
Featuring in dance numbers seems at odds with Huma Qureshi, who is known to headline powerful female stories in Maharani, Tarla (2023), and the upcoming season of Delhi Crime. Mention this, and she says it’s the perfect way to strike a balance.
“I always approach everything as a performer. I want to balance my work as an artiste. People ask me if dance numbers dilute my image, but I don’t want to have a set image. Just because I can do an acclaimed show like Maharani or Delhi Crime, doesn’t mean I can’t do this. I refuse to get myself boxed. No one can tell me what I can or cannot do!”
We’re in an age where ‘item numbers’ are being reimagined as empowering cameos. The actor says she fully trusted the director’s vision as she shook a leg to the Sachin-Jigar composition that is choreographed by Vijay Ganguly.
“In 2025, we women are aware of these songs’ intentions. Earlier, such songs were made for the male gaze, but now there is a shift of perception. Now, it is about celebrating female sensuality, form, and sexuality. It’s an important differentiation. When a filmmaker like Pulkit decides to do a song like this, you know you’re in safe hands. His movie Bhakshak [2024] was one of the most powerful stories of recent years. When we approached this song, I felt empowered. The people, who want to present you, are doing so with the right idea. Moreover, why should I feel shy as a woman and not express my sensual side?”
Manushi Chhillar on Bade Miyan Chote Miyan failure: "It took away pressure of doing a big film"
7:58 AM
Eagerly waiting for her next film Maalik, Manushi Chhillar says the box office failure of Bade Miyan Chote Miyan has taught her to focus on being an actor
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; November 24, 2024)
It’s been a busy year for former Miss World Manushi Chhillar, who entered Bollywood with Samrat Prithviraj (2022). Even though the year has not been entirely successful, with two theatrical releases—Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Operation Valentine with Telugu star Varun Tej—being some of the biggest films of her career, Chhillar has taken it in her stride. How did she cope with the non-performance of the Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff-starrer at the box office?
“When a film like that didn’t do well, it took away the pressure of doing a big film and delivering a hit. I realized you could have every ingredient in your soup, but it still might not be what the people want, and I have no control over it. I also realized what I needed to put more effort into. Instead of thinking about theatre, OTT, or box office numbers, I [need to put] my efforts into being an actor. Films will come and go. I want to take up roles where I can also explore [myself] as an actor. Working on your craft and skill set makes you secure as an actor. I learnt action for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, and that’s a skill set that will come handy for another actioner,” explained Chhillar.
Interestingly, Chhillar’s next action film is the Rajkummar Rao-starrer Maalik, directed by Pulkit. While it’s still unclear if the model-turned-actor will be throwing punches in this, she is thrilled about sharing screen space with the Stree 2 actor.
“I remember watching him in Bareilly Ki Barfi [2017]. The scene of him walking to a paan shop to the background [score] of Badass babua has been ingrained in my head since then,” reminisces the actor, adding that leaving an impression even in a five-minute role is something she admires.
“Rajkummar is someone who is purely focused on the scripts he chooses, and his choices are very good,” says Chhillar, who got the opportunity to perform at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Being a fan of Madhuri Dixit-Nene and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, dancing was always on her wish list after being trained in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathak.
It’s a wrap for Rajkummar Rao’s first full-fledged actioner Maalik with Manushi Chhillar
1:50 PM
Rao’s two looks in Maalik—bearded (right) and clean-shaven (left)
A source reveals, “Rajkummar Rao rigorously worked out to build a lithe physique. Jigra’s action director Vikram Dahiya was roped in to design the action set-pieces"
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; November 17, 2024)
Four releases in 2024 have kept Rajkummar Rao busy, but he is in no mood to slow down. Last week, the actor wrapped up the shoot of Maalik in Kanpur. What makes the Pulkit-directed film special for the leading man is that it marks his first out-and-out action entertainer.
Exploring a genre for the first time requires intense prep. Sure enough, Rao started prepping for the action fare as soon as he wrapped up the shoot of his last offering, Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, in April.
A source reveals, “Raj rigorously worked out to build a lithe physique. Jigra’s action director Vikram Dahiya was roped in to design the action set-pieces, and helped the leading man in his prep. While the actor has flirted with the genre earlier in Hit: The First Case [2022], this is the first time he will be seen doing action on such a massive scale. The film rolled in Lucknow in the last week of August, and since then, it was a straight three-month schedule as the unit filmed in Lucknow, Benares and Unnao. They shot a grand Diwali celebration scene in Brahmavart Ghat, lighting thousands of diyas. Their last leg was in Kanpur where they shot the protagonist’s wedding sequence, before calling it a wrap three days ago.”
Maalik, also starring Manushi Chhillar, marks Rao’s second collaboration with Pulkit. If the actor-director duo’s maiden project was the historical drama, Bose: Dead/Alive (2017), their next outing hails from a different school of cinema.
The source elaborates, “It has been designed as a massy offering. Rajkummar sports two looks in the movie—a clean-shaven one, and the other is a rugged, bearded look. His character transforms from a ruffian to a gangster. He has shot several action set-pieces that include using weapons as well as performing hand-to-hand combat.”
Bengali superstar Prosenjit plays Rao’s mentor in Maalik.
Rajkummar Rao, Medha Shankr come together for hardcore action film Maalik
8:00 AM
Rajkummar set to attempt his first hardcore action film with Maalik; Pulkit-helmed venture to roll in Lucknow from September
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 4, 2024)
There is no denying that Rajkummar Rao is one of the most versatile actors of the current crop. Yet, in his 14-year career so far, he has attempted an action thriller only once with Hit: The First Case (2022). That’s going to change soon. Sources tell us that he has given his nod to Maalik, a hardcore action fare to be helmed by Pulkit of Bhakshak fame. The movie is expected to roll in September.
If you look at Rao’s upcoming slate, mainstream entertainers could well be his theme for the next few months. In August, his horror comedy, Stree 2, will hit the screens, followed by Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video. Maalik, which is being backed by Jay Shewakramani, is a natural extension.
A source reveals, “While Raj has carved a niche for himself with his solid performances, he hasn’t developed the image of a hero of the masses. With his next few films, he wants to explore that space. When Jay and Pulkit approached him for Maalik, Raj immediately gave his nod as the film will present him in a new avatar. It’s an emotion-driven, action entertainer that will see the actor performing high-octane stunts. He has begun working on his physique as the role demands a muscular frame.”
Medha Shankr, who made a splash with 12th Fail (2023), has been cast as the female lead in the story written by Pulkit.
The source adds, “The script required a soft, intelligent and sensitive actor who would be the perfect foil to Raj’s character. The shoot will begin in September in Lucknow, and then move to Banaras as the story is based there. Pulkit plans to wrap up filming over a three-month start-to-finish schedule.”
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