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	9 May 2025 (2025-05-09)
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, Durgesh Kumar, Ishtiyak Khan, Rishabh Pathak, Brijendra Kala, Vindhya Tiwari, and Nikhat Khan. 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. The film was released theatrically on 9 May 2025 and received predominantly negative reviews from critics.

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.

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.

External links

• The Networker at IMDb