Rajkummar Rao's much-anticipated gangster drama, Maalik, hit the big screens on Friday (July 11). Known for his versatile performances, the actor's fans were eager to see him in a grittier and unconventional role. However, the film's first day box office collections indicate a lukewarm response.
According to early estimates by Sacnilk, Maalik earned Rs 3.48 crore on its opening day. The film had an overall Hindi occupancy of 12.86 per cent across India. Morning shows saw a dull start with just 6.65 per cent occupancy, which slightly improved in the afternoon (11.12 per cent) and evening (11.78 per cent).
The night shows of Maalik witnessed a better turnout at 21.88 per cent, hinting at some hope for the weekend.
Maalik Review: Even Rajkummar Rao Can't Save This Dull Gangster Drama That Offers Nothing NewMaalik beats Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan
Despite being one of Rajkummar's ambitious projects, Maalik couldn't surpass the opening day numbers of his previous release Bhool Chuk Maaf, co-starring Wamiqa Gabbi, which had a stronger start with Rs 7 crore.
On the brighter side, Maalik did manage to outperform Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor's romantic drama Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, which recorded a dismal Rs 32 lakh on Day 1. Both films released on the same day.
Directed by Santosh Singh and marking the Bollywood debut of Shanaya, Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan failed to draw audiences despite its fresh pairing.
About Maalik
Directed by Pulkit and jointly produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, Maalik features an ensemble cast including Prosenjit Chatterjee, Manushi, Saurabh Sachdeva, Saurabh Shukla, Anshumaan Pushkar, Swanand Kirkire, Rajendra Gupta, and Baljinder Kaur.
The film received mixed reviews from critics. While Rajkummar's intense performance was widely appreciated, the predictable plotline and lack of novelty in storytelling seemed to affect audience engagement.
As the weekend progresses, all eyes are on whether Maalik can pick up momentum through word-of-mouth and recover from its underwhelming start.
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