Slow Start at the Box Office Rajkummar Rao’s much-hyped entry into the gangster genre, Maalik, has opened to a disappointing response at the box office. Released on Friday, the film managed to earn only ₹3.35 crore on its opening day, falling short of both industry expectations and the star’s past performances. Directed by Pulkit, Maalik also stars Manushi Chhillar, Saurabh Shukla, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Swanand Kirkire in key roles.
Occupancy Rates Remain Low in Major Cities
Despite decent buzz, the film recorded an overall Hindi occupancy rate of just 12.86%. Morning shows began on a very slow note with only 6.65% occupancy, while afternoon and evening shows hovered around 11–12%. There was a slight rise during the night shows, which touched 21.88%, but it wasn’t enough to make a significant impact.
Interestingly, cities like Chennai (26.67%), Lucknow (24%), and Jaipur (22%) performed better than expected, while traditionally strong markets like Mumbai (13%) and Delhi NCR (14.25%) underdelivered.
Budget vs Collection: A Challenging Road Ahead
Maalik has been made on a reported budget of ₹54 crore, which includes production and marketing. Given the slow start, the film now faces an uphill battle to recover costs. The opening numbers are significantly lower than Rajkummar Rao’s previous hit Bhool Chuk Maaf, which opened at ₹7 crore, and also trail behind recent releases like The Diplomat (₹4 crore on Day 1).
On a positive note, Maalik did perform better than Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, which opened with just ₹32 lakh.
Tough Competition from Domestic and Hollywood Releases
Maalik is also facing stiff competition at the box office. In its second week, Metro… In Dino collected ₹2.25 crore on Friday, taking its total to ₹29.1 crore. Meanwhile, Jurassic World: Rebirth remains a major draw, earning ₹3 crore on Friday, with its total crossing ₹58 crore. Additionally, Superman, the major Hollywood release of the week, opened to a strong ₹7 crore, further limiting Maalik’s reach among multiplex audiences.
Mixed Reviews & Weekend Outlook
Early reviews of Maalik have been mixed to negative, with critics pointing out a predictable storyline, lack of depth in character development, and underwhelming emotional arcs. While performances—especially Rao’s—have been praised, the film’s execution has left many viewers unimpressed. Unless word-of-mouth improves significantly, Maalik could continue to underperform through the weekend.
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