‘Maalik’ Slows Down at the Box Office as ‘Saiyaara’ Dominates with ₹150 Crore and Counting

NDC DESK

Entertainment | Box Office Report

Mumbai:July 24 – While Maalik, starring Rajkummar Rao, had an encouraging start at the box office, the film appears to be losing steam as it enters its second week in theatres. Despite its intense narrative and powerful performances, the gangster drama has failed to maintain momentum. In contrast, debut actors Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda are making waves with their film Saiyaara, which continues to outperform expectations in its opening week.

‘Maalik’ Box Office Day 12: A Downward Trend

Directed by Pulkit, Maalik began its theatrical journey with moderate success. The film earned ₹3.75 crore on its first day, followed by identical weekend earnings of ₹5.25 crore each on Saturday and Sunday. However, post the initial buzz, the collections began to taper off significantly.

By its second weekend, earnings had dipped to around ₹2 crore combined. The following weekdays saw even sharper declines, with the film collecting only ₹33 lakh on both Monday and Tuesday. As of Day 12, the total domestic earnings stand at an estimated ₹24.2 crore.

About the Film

Set against the gritty backdrop of the 1980s, Maalik tells the story of Deepak, a humble farmer’s son who ascends to infamy as a feared crime boss. The film features Rajkummar Rao in a commanding lead role, supported by an ensemble cast that includes Prosenjit Chatterjee, Huma Qureshi, and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar. Additional performances by Anshumaan Pushkar, Saurabh Sachdeva, Saurabh Shukla, Swanand Kirkire, Rajendra Gupta, and Baljinder Kaur lend depth to the period crime saga.

‘Saiyaara’ Soars While ‘Maalik’ Stalls

While Maalik struggles to retain audience interest, the romantic drama Saiyaara—which hit cinemas on July 18—has turned into a box office juggernaut. Directed by Mohit Suri, the film has already crossed the ₹150 crore mark within just a few days of release, according to trade reports. The coming-of-age love story, led by fresh faces Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has resonated with younger audiences and is showing strong weekday holds, a sign of sustained interest beyond initial hype.

The contrast in fortunes between the two films highlights a broader trend in the post-pandemic cinema landscape, where compelling storytelling and emotional relatability are sometimes outshining star-driven projects with heavier themes.

Looking Ahead

With several major domestic and international releases lined up in the coming weeks—including a high-profile superhero film slated for this Friday—both Maalik and Saiyaara face a shifting box office landscape. While Saiyaara appears poised for a long and profitable run, Maalik may struggle to recoup its production costs unless it sees a surge in word-of-mouth support.