Rajkummar Rao's latest film, Maalik, has had a slow start at the box office, earning ₹3.48 crore on its opening day. This figure is significantly lower than Rao's previous release, Bhool Chuk Maaf, which earned ₹7 crore on its opening day. The film also underperformed compared to John Abraham's The Diplomat, which collected ₹4 crore on its first day. However, Maalik did manage to outperform Vikrant Massey and Shanaya Kapoor's Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan, which only earned ₹32 lakh.

Maalik is a gangster drama directed by Pulkit and produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani. The film features Rajkummar Rao in the titular role, alongside Prosenjit Chatterjee and Manushi Chhillar. The cast also includes Saurabh Sachdeva, Saurabh Shukla, Anshumaan Pushkar, Swanand Kirkire, Rajendra Gupta, and Baljinder Kaur. The film is set in Allahabad in the late 1980s and 90s. It tells the story of Deepak, a poor farmer's son who rises through the ranks of the underworld to become a powerful mafia kingpin. He takes on the name Maalik as he navigates dangerous enemies while trying to leave his life of crime behind for his pregnant wife, Shalini.

The film has received mixed reviews from critics. Rajkummar Rao's performance has been praised, with many noting his ability to balance the menacing nature of a gangster with the caring side of a family man. However, some critics have pointed out that the storyline is predictable and clichéd. Some reviews mention that the film suffers from dull storytelling and a convoluted screenplay. The narrative is said to offer little insight into Deepak's rise in the world of crime. According to one review, the plot devolves into relentless and tedious shootouts, and the film's major betrayal towards the end feels trite.

Despite the mixed reviews, some viewers have appreciated Rajkummar Rao's performance and the film's portrayal of power and loyalty. One user on social media said that Maalik is a gritty ride through 1990s Allahabad and that Rao elevates the film with his strong performance. Another user echoed similar sentiments, calling the film a captivating cinematic ride.

However, other viewers were disappointed with the film. One review stated that everything in the film looked artificial, from the acting to the dialogues. Another disappointed viewer felt that Rajkummar Rao tried his best but that his character-writing was not convincing. This viewer also noted that Manushi Chhillar failed to deliver and that the second half of the film tests the audience's patience.

Maalik had an overall Hindi occupancy of 12.86% on its opening Friday. The morning shows had an occupancy of 5-7%, which increased to 10-15% during the noon shows and 18-20% during the night shows. Based on the initial morning trend, it was estimated that the film would collect around ₹3 crore net on its opening day.

Despite the slow start, Maalik is expected to collect ₹15 crore over its opening weekend. However, it remains to be seen whether the film can pick up pace and overcome the negative reviews and audience reception.