As her latest film, Maalik, hit cinemas on July 11, 2025, actress Manushi Chhillar visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, to seek blessings. She was accompanied by the film's director, Pulkit, and his family.

Chhillar, dressed in an ethnic suit with jhootis and silver earrings, was photographed at the temple. Maalik marks Chhillar's first on-screen collaboration with Rajkummar Rao, who stars in the title role. The film is directed by Pulkit and produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani.

Maalik is described as a powerful drama filled with emotion, suspense and twists. Set against the backdrop of 1980s Allahabad, the film explores ambition, power, and survival in a world ruled by guns, greed and loyalty. The film also stars Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anshumaan Pushkar, Saurabh Shukla, Huma Qureshi and Swanand Kirkire.

Chhillar has spoken about her role in Maalik, noting that it is a more "rooted avatar" than her previous roles. She shared that her main challenge was ensuring she didn't seem out of place alongside the experienced senior actors in the cast. According to Chhillar, she worked on "trying not to look like I'm new to this. I didn't want to look like a misfit".

Rajkummar Rao, who was last seen in Bhool Chuk Maaf, underwent a physical transformation for his role in Maalik, growing his beard for over 80 days to achieve a rugged look. Director Pulkit said that this look was planned to reflect a strong and unfiltered sense of power.

Maalik was filmed over a three-month schedule in Lucknow, Varanasi and Unnao. Principal photography commenced in August 2024.

Manushi Chhillar's previous roles include Sanyogita in Samrat Prithviraj, and Captain Misha Kapoor in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. She is also slated to star in Tehran alongside John Abraham.

Maalik features music by Sachin-Jigar, with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Songs from the film include "Naamumkin", "Dil Thaam Ke", and the "Maalik Title Track".

Movie analysts predict that Maalik is heading for a quiet start at the box office.