Pulkit, who directed the 2025 action thriller Maalik, recently opened up about his disappointment with the final outcome of the film and admitted that the pressure surrounding theatrical releases affected his work as a filmmaker.
Starring Rajkummar Rao in one of the most intense roles of his career, Maalik marked the actor’s entry into the large-scale gangster action genre. Directed by Pulkit, who earlier received praise for Bhakshak, the film attempted to present Rao in a rugged and mass-oriented avatar. While the film received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics, several reviews pointed out that its storyline followed a familiar gangster rise-to-power template similar to films such as KGF: Chapter 1 and Pushpa: The Rise.
In a recent interaction with Variety India, Pulkit candidly spoke about the challenges of theatrical filmmaking and why he currently feels more comfortable with OTT releases. Reflecting on Maalik, the filmmaker admitted, “There is a lot of pressure on filmmakers in the theatrical world. For Maalik, I wasn’t happy with the final film because I didn’t do a good job under pressure. So, I don’t want that pressure.”
The director further shared his views on the ongoing debate surrounding theatrical releases versus streaming platforms. According to him, storytelling should remain the primary focus for filmmakers rather than the medium of release. He said, “I think wherever you get a chance to tell a story, you should just do it. The discussion about theatre or OTT is a producer's discussion. Whether a film has recovered money or not is not my lookout. Getting to tell a good story; that's my lookout. So, I don't care if it's OTT or not. Eventually, all the films come out on OTT.”
Although Maalik struggled at the box office, Rajkummar Rao’s performance received appreciation from audiences and critics alike.
Meanwhile, Pulkit is now focused on the promotions of Kartavya, starring Saif Ali Khan. The film is backed by Red Chillies Entertainment, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, and is scheduled to release directly on Netflix on May 15.
More Pages: Maalik Box Office Collection , Maalik Movie Review
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