Maalik makers take extra effort to guard Manushi Chhillar's look in Rajkummar Rao-starrer Maalik

Manushi Chhillar

Former Miss World and Bollywood actress Manushi Chhillar is all set to mark a new chapter in her film journey with what can only be deservingly called 'her most transformative year' yet. With two major films in the pipeline for release, Maalik, a gangster drama, where she will be sharing screen space with Rajkummar Rao, and Tehran, a geo-political movie based on true-events, where she will be seen opposite John Abraham, Manushi's fans are super excited to see her back in action. Manushi is set to showcase herself in completely unprecedented avatars that is sure to challenge audience perceptions and demonstrate her versatility as an actress.

Manushi to transform for Maalik

As Manushi's first movie of 2025, Maalik nears its release date, sources have confirmed that her on-screen appearance will be dramatically different from anything fans have seen before, which has only added to the anticipation of the film. The team behind Maalik has been taking extra efforts to prevent the actress' look from leaking to the public. Another factor that has contributed to the buzz surrounding Maalik is her fresh pairing with Rajkummar.

While it's still unclear if the model-turned-actor will be throwing punches in this, she is thrilled about sharing screen space with the Stree 2 actor. "I remember watching him in Bareilly Ki Barfi [2017]. The scene of him walking to a paan shop to the background [score] of Badass babua has been ingrained in my head since then," reminisces the actor, adding that leaving an impression even in a five-minute role is something she admires. "Rajkummar is someone who is purely focused on the scripts he chooses, and his choices are very good," said Manushi in an earlier interview with Mid-day.

Directed by Pulkit and produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, Maalik is scheduled to hit theaters on June 20.

Tehran to showcase action side of Manushi

Meanwhile, her next movie Tehran promises to showcase an equally transformative side of Manushi, as she steps into an action-heavy role opposite John Abraham in this geo-political thriller. Her dramatic makeover for the film includes cropped wavy hair and scenes featuring her wielding firearms, a far departure from her typical elegant persona. The Dinesh Vijan-produced Maddock Films project is slated for a 2025 release, completing what appears to be the Miss World's deliberate swivel toward challenging, character-driven roles that expand her acting repertoire beyond her beauty pageant roots.