Rajkummar Rao has finally stepped out of his small-town lover-boy persona and stepped into a completely different role in his upcoming film Maalik.
Seen in the role of an ambitious gangster, Rao impressed many with a look that was unlike anything he had done before.
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His gruff appearance, the boldness with which he killed people, and his ruthless demeanour were a stark contrast to the roles people were used to seeing him in.
However, many noticed how Rajkummar Rao’s portrayal seemed slightly similar to Nani’s character from Kill 3, almost as if he was trying to imitate him.
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Kill 3 didn’t quite live up to the hype, but Nani, being the sensation he is, stole everyone’s hearts and was a spectacle to watch on screen.
Some viewers felt that Rajkummar Rao, in Maalik, was mimicking Nani’s personality and style in the action sequences from Hit 3.
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While others disagreed, stating that Rao looked genuinely terrifying in his portrayal of Maalik, especially with the fierce and relentless killing scenes.
After back-to-back hits like Stree and Stree 2, Rao has had to put in a lot of effort to break free from his small-town-boy image to avoid getting typecast. Even in Bhool Chuk Maaf, where he played a somewhat similar character, people had started slotting him into that comfort zone.
His acting in Maalik needs to be uniquely powerful for audiences to recognise him as more than just the star from Stree 2.
While people may draw comparisons with other stars and attempt to typecast him again, Rao must deliver something unexpected and distinctive to truly stand out.
