Overview

• The CBFC approved Maalik’s 152-minute cut with an ‘A’ rating after minor dialogue edits, marking Rajkummar Rao’s first adult-certified release in seven years.
• Final pre-sales of roughly 6,500 tickets in top national chains point to a subdued opening relative to Rao’s previous films.
• Promotional efforts have included a Bangla Sahib gurudwara visit in Delhi, media interviews, and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Instagram endorsement.
• This 1980s Allahabad-set gangster drama represents Rao’s pivot from indie and slice-of-life roles to mainstream mass-action territory.
• Producers and distributors are viewing the opening weekend as a critical gauge of Rao’s commercial pull amid stiff summer competition.