Maalik director Pulkit reveals he was not happy with Rajkummar Rao's film: 'I didn't do a good job'

Rajkummar Rao in Maalik, director Pulkit (Pics/Instagram)

Filmmaker Pulkit, who is currently gearing up for the release of Kartavya, starring Saif Ali Khan, on May 15, recently opened up about why he prefers releasing his films directly on streaming and not in theatres. During the chat he also spoke about his last theatrical outing Maalik, which starred Manushi Chhillar and Rajkummar Rao in the lead roles.

Pulkit opens up about Maalik

While speaking to Variety India, Pulkit said theatres give him pressure, and hence he prefers releasing his film on OTT instead. Speaking about his last theatrical outing, Maalik, which tanked at the box office, Pulkit shared, "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."

Maalik stars Rajkummar Rao, Manushi Chhillar, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anshumaan Pushkar, Swanand Kirkire, Saurabh Sachdeva, and Saurabh Shukla in key roles. It is the story of Deepak, a farmer's son who rises to prominence as a gangster in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in the 1980s. The film revolves around his transformation from a humble man to a feared figure, driven by ambition and personal grief, and his involvement in the sociopolitical scene of the period. Notably, the film, which was released on July 11, 2025, was Pulkit's first theatrical release.

Pulkit about Saif Ali Khan and Shah Rukh Khan

The director also opened up about casting Saif Ali Khan in Kartavya and revealed that he was his first choice for the role. He shared, "While growing up, I was a big fan of ‘Omkara.' But sadly, no filmmaker explored Saif Ali Khan in the heartland space after that film. I was very eager to take him back to the village, and luckily, he came on board."

Pulkit further spoke about Shah Rukh Khan, whose production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, is backing Kartavya. He revealed that although SRK was not involved in the creative process of the show, he has been supportive throughout and added, "When I was growing up in a small city, I used to have Shah Rukh Khan's photos on my walls. To get to see him and to get two films produced by him is a surreal feeling. I think I did something good in my past life. Whatever little interaction I have had with him has been incredible. All his feedback is amazing. And the way I got support on both films was mind-blowing."