Junaid Khan, son of famed Indian actor Aamir Khan, has made a strong impression with his first film role in “Maharaj.” The period drama, directed by Siddharth P Malhotra, premiered on Netflix on June 21 and swiftly climbed into the top ten in 22 countries.
In just its second week, “Maharaj” amassed 5.3 million viewing hours, earning it the second spot on Netflix’s non-English language films chart for the week of June 24-30.
Set in the 19th century and inspired by a real libel case, “Maharaj” tells the story of an ordinary man, a journalist, who bravely challenges a highly respected societal figure. The film portrays his daring exposure of truths that challenge the status quo.
Khan shares the screen with Jaideep Ahlawat, Sharvari, and Shalini Pandey. Filming began during the pandemic and continued over three years.
Reflecting on the film’s success,Junaid Khan expressed his gratitude, calling it “a collective win.” He thanked audiences for their support and acknowledged the efforts of his colleagues: “I am deeply appreciative of the love and feedback for my debut. Congratulations to our producer YRF, director Siddharth P. Malhotra, and my co-stars Jaideep, Sharvari, Shalini, and the entire crew. We created a unique film that Netflix has showcased to the world, and it’s connecting with viewers globally.” Malhotra previously directed the internationally successful “Hichki.”
“Maharaj” is the second production in a multi-genre collaboration between Netflix and YRF, announced last September. The first was the hit series “The Railway Men,” a drama about the unsung heroes of the Bhopal gas tragedy.
Indian media reports indicate that Junaid Khan has more projects on the horizon, including films with Sai Pallavi and Khushi Kapoor.