Manushi Chhillar’s journey from winning the Miss World crown in 2017 to building a career in Bollywood has been full of ups and downs.
Once hailed as the next Aishwarya Rai, expectations were sky-high for the Haryana-born beauty queen.
But her entry into films has faced several setbacks, with most of her projects failing to make a mark at the box office.
Her debut film, Samrat Prithviraj (2022), opposite Akshay Kumar, was one of the most awaited releases at the time.
However, it didn’t live up to the hype and received mixed reviews from both critics and audiences. She reunited with Kumar in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, but that too couldn’t be delivered commercially.
Another project, The Great Indian Family with Vicky Kaushal, also struggled to leave an impact, further adding to concerns about the direction of her film career.
Now, Manushi is aiming for a fresh start with Maalik, a gritty gangster drama releasing on July 11, 2025.
In a major shift from her earlier glamorous roles, she plays Shalini — a de-glam, grounded character.
At the film’s trailer launch, her co-star Rajkummar Rao spoke highly of her transformation.
He praised her “amazing Indian face” and her “earthy” appeal, noting her strong command over Hindi and the dedication she showed in preparing for the role.
According to him, audiences will be “amazed” by what she brings to the screen.
The trailer’s realistic tone and Manushi’s raw, rooted performance have sparked renewed interest and conversations around her potential.
With Maalik, she finds herself at a key turning point. Whether this film becomes the breakthrough she’s been waiting for, or ends up being another missed opportunity, will become clear on July 11.
Both the industry and viewers are watching closely to see if Manushi Chhillar can turn the tide and chart a new course in Bollywood.
