Malaal is a 2019 Indian romantic drama film directed by Mangesh Hadawale and produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bhushan Kumar, Mahaveer Jain, and Krishan Kumar. The film marks the debut of Meezaan Jaffrey and Sharmin Segal in lead roles.
Shiva (played by Jaffrey) is a rowdy youngster living in a Mumbai chawl. He has a troubled past and is constantly at odds with his father, who wants him to focus on his studies and get a job. Aastha (played by Segal) is a simple and demure girl belonging to a middle-class family that moves into the chawl.
As Shiva and Aastha begin to get to know each other, their budding romance is threatened by their starkly different backgrounds. While Shiva struggles to deal with his father's expectations and a brewing gang war in the neighborhood, Aastha tries to reconcile her own desires with the expectations of her traditional family.
Despite the obstacles, the two continue to grow closer and eventually fall deeply in love. However, their relationship is put to the test when Shiva is forced to choose between loyalty to his gang and his love for Aastha.
Malaal is a poignant and heartwarming tale of love in the face of adversity, set against the gritty backdrop of Mumbai's chawls. The film received praise for its realistic portrayal of the city's working-class neighborhoods and for Jaffrey and Segal's impressive performances.