Defying his cool, comic image, mega-star Rajkummar Rao proves he is a 'manoranjan ka MAALIK' in the trailer with a deadly, macho gangster role ! by Chaitanya Padukone

"The true test of any great actor is his ability to defy his romantic soft and comic image and 'convincingly' play an anti-hero negative shades lead character," legendary director Yash Chopra had mentioned directly to me during his lifetime. The revered Yash-jee was referring to Amitabh Bachchan's iconic character in 'Deewaar' (1975), which the superstar played, after having played soft romantic or comic action roles in several of his previous initial films.

This now fully applies to versatile super-actor Rajkummar Rao, who in the latest super-hit trailer of musical crime-thriller musical movie Maalik, he appears 'convincingly' in a never-seen-before screen-avataar as a cold-blooded macho gangster, brimming with menace and terror. With his rugged look and high-octane action moves, Rajkummar commands every frame, delivering a performance that’s raw, intense, and unforgettable. The 'Maalik' character is romantically paired against a de-glam former Miss World actress, Manushi Chillar (de-glam look) and he is pitted against evergreen Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterji (fondly called Bumba-Da), who is cast as a tough (corrupt?) police officer.

It may be recalled that Rajkummar played a rebel, outspoken, visually-impaired (blind) lead character in movie Srikanth  and  comic characters in both recent past super-hit movies Stree 1 and 2 and Bhool Chuk Maaf 

Tips Films (Kumar Taurani--Girish Taurani)  and Jay Shewakramani--- Northern Lights Films have dropped the much-awaited trending, viral trailer of musical action-thriller Maalik, a gritty action-packed entertainer that sees Rajkummar Rao in his most intense and menacing macho role yet.

In Maalik, Rajkummar Rao appears in a never-seen-before avatar as a cold-blooded gangster, brimming with menace and terror. With his rugged look and high-octane action moves, Rajkummar commands every frame, delivering a performance that’s raw, intense, and unforgettable.

Also starring Manushi Chhillar in a lead role, along with Huma Qureshi, Saurabh Shukla ( of 'satya' fame), and famous acting-guru Saurabh Sachdeva ( of mega-hit 'Animal' and 'Pushpa-2' fame) in pivotal parts, Maalik is set against the gritty backdrop of 1980s Allahabad. It’s a hard-hitting tale of ambition, power, and survival that explores the price of rising in a world ruled by guns, greed, and loyalty. 

Talking about his title-role character, Rajkummar Rao says, “This is the first time I’m doing such a hard-hitting role. It really pushed me as an actor and let me explore a darker, more intense side. Playing a layered, ruthless gangster was both thrilling and challenging and that’s what made it so exciting. I can’t wait for the audience to experience the gritty, gripping world we’ve created.” 

Glam model-actress and former 'Miss World'  Manushi Chhillar also shared, “Maalik is really special to me. It’s my first collaboration with such a talented team, Rajkummar and director Pulkit and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I got to portray a character I’ve never explored before, and the film allowed me to step into a world that’s gritty, raw and intense. It’s been such a thrilling journey, and I truly hope the audience connects with it.”

Super-talented Pulkit who marks his first theatrical release with Maalik says, “Am proud to share the trailer for my first theatrical film, Maalik. This image-defying project has been a remarkable journey, and the story and visuals-audio promises to take audiences on a gripping yet emotional ride. We have poured our hearts into its making, and I sincerely hope viewers find it as meaningful and engaging as we intended. I look forward to its release with great anticipation.”

Directed by Pulkit, Maalik marks his first theatrical release. Known for his hard-hitting thrillers and emotionally charged dramas, the film is produced by dynamic visionary Kumar Taurani under the Tips Films banner, along with Jay Shewakramani of Northern Lights Films. Maalik is slated to release in cinemas on Friday 11th July 2025 and is expected to be a commercial super-hit at the box-office

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