Rajkummar Rao has never been one to play it safe. From the easygoing charm of Bicky in Stree to the determined resilience of Srikanth, he’s carved a niche as Bollywood’s most unpredictable shape-shifter. But with Maalik, Rao doesn’t just step out of his comfort zone - he shatters it.

In Stree, he gave us a lovable tailor caught in a supernatural mess, blending humor and vulnerability with effortless ease. As Bicky, he was the quintessential boy-next-door - relatable, endearing, and quietly heroic. Then came Srikanth, where he portrayed the real-life entrepreneur Srikanth Bolla with remarkable sensitivity. His performance was grounded, inspiring, and a testament to his ability to humanize extraordinary stories.

Now, with Maalik, Rao undergoes a radical transformation. Set in the gritty underworld of 1988 Allahabad, he plays a dreadlocked, cold-blooded gangster - a far cry from the soft-spoken characters we’ve known him for. The teaser alone is a masterclass in menace: bloodshot eyes, brutal violence, and a chilling declaration - “Maalik paida nahi hue to kya, ban to sakte hai.” It’s a performance that promises to redefine his legacy and expand the boundaries of what we expect from him.

What makes Rao’s journey so compelling is his refusal to be typecast. He doesn’t just act - he evolves. Each role is a new skin, a new rhythm, a new truth. Maalik isn’t just a film; it’s a statement. A declaration that Rajkummar Rao is not here to fit into boxes - he’s here to break them.

And if this is the new era of Rajkummar Rao, we’re all in for one hell of a ride.