Rajkummar Rao REACTS to Maalik–Animal comparisons: 'We're not here to glorify anything...'
In a chat with Bollywood Bubble, Rajkummar addressed the growing chatter about whether 'Maalik' glorifies violence in the same vein as its cinematic predecessors.
'This is the world of a gangster'
The actor was asked if Maalik also promotes violence and denied promoting brutality, the actor exclusively told Bollywood Bubble, 'I think it's meant for entertainment, nothing else. It's a piece of cinema. As I said earlier, it's meant to be watched, enjoyed, and experienced.
That's about it. We're not here to glorify anything. We're just telling a story.'
He also emphasized that 'Maalik' is not about endorsing brutality but about portraying the psychological and emotional cost of power. He acknowledged that while the film is intense and action-packed, it's plant in character-driven storytelling.
The Animal and Pushpa effect
With 'Animal' and 'Pushpa' setting new benchmarks for violence in a stylish manner and anti-hero narratives, 'Maalik' inevitably enters the same conversation.
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But Rajkummar is clear: Maalik may share genre DNA, but it's not a clone.
'Every story has its own soul. We're not trying to replicate anyone. We're telling a story that's raw, real, and rooted in its own world,' he said.
Beyond the bloodshed
Co-star Manushi Chhillar, who has a key part in the film, said that 'Maalik' looks into who has power, heart pain, and the price of big dreams. She talked about the hard parts of playing a less-glam role and why tales from small towns hold more deep feelings.
The bigger picture
Made by Pulkit, 'Maalik' takes place in 1988 Allahabad. It shows how a small hustler grows to be a big, scary gangster. The movie stars Prosenjit Chatterjee, Saurabh Shukla, and Huma Qureshi - who shows up in a special role. It aims to give a tough, deep story that dives into hard choices.
'Maalik' comes to big screens on July 11, 2025.
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