Raid 2 director hints at third instalment of Ajay Devgn starrer: ‘The idea can be taken ahead'

(From left) Ajay Devgn, Pritisha Srivastava, and Vaani Kapoor in the film. Pics/Instagram

In a world of heroes and superheroes, Ajay Devgn's no-nonsense Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Amay Patnaik from the Raid franchise is a refreshing change. Director Raj Kumar Gupta knows that he has not only an enduring character in Patnaik, but also a universe that can be expanded. That's probably why he has hinted at the possibility of the third instalment in the final shot of Raid 2, which sees the antagonists - played by Riteish Deshmukh and Saurabh Shukla - strike a deal behind bars to get back at the hero. So, is a threequel on the anvil?

"I thought it would be fun to have a scene like that, but it has taken its own meaning," laughs Gupta. "I can't predict what will happen in the future, but I'd love to work with powerful actors like Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh again."

(From left) Riteish Deshmukh and director Raj Kumar Gupta during the film's shoot

With Raid 2 coming seven years after the 2018 original, the director turned Devgn's crime thriller into a franchise and showed how income tax raids - a subject that had hardly caught Bollywood filmmakers' attention before - can play out dramatically on the big screen. Given the concept's adaptability, Gupta can create an on-screen universe of crime, politics, and corruption. Something that Raid 2's climax teases. The director is measured when asked whether he is taking that route. "As a filmmaker and writer, there are stories I want to tell. Also, having grown up in the small town of Hazaribagh and being familiar with this kind of world, I have more of such stories to tell. Maybe the idea can be taken ahead with different characters or different [premises]. Making a successful film is difficult, and making sequels is more difficult since there are more expectations attached to it. What these characters have in store, only time will tell."

What he is forthcoming about, however, is the research that entails such films. He shares, "Today a lot of my college friends are IRS and IAS officers, bankers, and businessmen. They form a part of my research and help me understand the characters."

Raid 2 has fared well, earning over R130 crore in the domestic market. Understandably, it slowed down last week because of the India-Pakistan conflicts. "The film would naturally get affected as there are bigger causes at stake. But when things started becoming normal, people started going to the theatres again to watch it," states Gupta.

Rs 130 CR
The film's estimated collection so far