The Networker
| The Networker | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Vikas Kumar Vishwakarma |
| Written by | Vikash Malik |
| Screenplay by | Vikas Kumar Vishwakarma Abhinav Pathak |
| Story by | Vikash Malik |
| Produced by | Vikash Malik Sharad Malik |
| Starring | Vikram Kochhar Durgesh Kumar Ishtiyak Khan Rishabh Pathak Brijendra Kala Vindhya Tiwari Nikhat Khan |
| Cinematography | Masco Singh |
| Edited by | Deepanshu Chawla |
| Music by | Rahul Bhatt Kalki |
Production companies | Gutargoo Entertainment Navritu Films |
| Distributed by | Master Group |
Release date |
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| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
The Networker is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language comedy film directed by Vikas Kumar Vishwakarma and produced by Vikash Malik and Sharad Malik under the banners Gutargoo Entertainment and Navritu Films. The film stars Vikram Kochhar,[1] Durgesh Kumar, Ishtiyak Khan, Rishabh Pathak, Brijendra Kala, Vindhya Tiwari, and Nikhat Khan.[2] It follows the story of Aditya, a failed multi-level marketing (MLM) entrepreneur, who collaborates with two partners to launch a fraudulent venture that spirals into one of the largest con jobs in their community.[3] The film was released theatrically on 9 May 2025 and received predominantly negative reviews from critics.[4]
Plot
Aditya, a former MLM entrepreneur, suffers a devastating financial collapse that alienates his family and leads him to contemplate suicide. Determined to recover, he teams up with his friend Raghav and a veteran network marketer, Lallan. With backing from an influential financier named Pradhan, the trio launches a new business venture. However, much of the initial funding is used to repay Aditya's prior debts, and the new enterprise quickly fails.
Inspired during a visit to a restaurant using robotic waiters, Aditya devises a new scam: a fake company claiming to manufacture advanced AI-powered public service robots. To add legitimacy, they recruit a motivational speaker, Gyani, and enlist Pradeep Biswas, an impersonator, to act as the Managing Director. Promising high returns, they attract thousands of investors, accumulating over ₹10,000 crore.
As the scheme grows, internal tensions arise when Pradeep expresses a desire to use the funds for a legitimate business that could benefit ordinary investors. Eventually, the core trio absconds to Dubai with the collected money, leaving behind a trail of disillusioned stakeholders. The film ends with the group selectively reimbursing certain victims based on moral judgments.
Cast and characters
- Vikram Kochhar as Aditya
- Rishabh Pathak as Raghav
- Durgesh Kumar as Lallan
- Ishtiyak Khan as Pradeep Biswas
- Brijendra Kala as Gyani
- Vindhya Tiwari as Ketki
- Atul Srivastava as Pradhan (Pradhanji)
- Vedika Bhandari as Disha
- Nikhat Khan as Shanti
Reception
Critical response
The film received largely negative reviews from critics. Dhaval Roy of The Times of India rated it 1.5 out of 5 stars, noting that the concept had potential but suffered from shallow execution and a repetitive narrative. While acknowledging moments of humor, Roy criticized the unrealistic ease with which characters amassed large investments and described the storytelling as overly simplistic.[5]
Film Information offered a harsher critique, describing the plot as "childish" and the screenplay as "illogical." Editor Komal Nahta labeled the film a "non-starter," citing a lack of engaging direction and uninspired dialogue. The portrayal of gullible investors was considered implausible, and the overall script was deemed lacking in coherence and credibility.[6]
References
- ^ "Actor Vikram Kochhar leads The Networker". The Times of India. 2025-02-18. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "The Networker teaser: An engaging tale of ambition and resilience in the MLM world". Firstpost. 2025-04-05. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "The Networker Teaser: A riveting glimpse into dark side of MLM – Release date, cast, and more". ET Now. 2025-04-09. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ Tiwari, Shivani. "When Hope Meets Hustle: The networker trailer promises an eye-opening story, releasing May 09". DNA India. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "The Networker Movie Review: Shallow storytelling prevents this scam story from taking off". The Times of India. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
- ^ "'THE NETWORKER' REVIEW | 9 May, 2025". Film Information. 2025-05-09. Retrieved 2025-06-21.