In Raid 2, Ajay Devgn locks horns with Riteish Deshmukh in his 75th raid, which has been touted as the most challenging aspect of his career. But was this sequel as good as its predecessor? Let’s find out
Raid 2 movie review
Film: Raid 2
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Vaani Kapoor, Amit Sial, Supriya Pathak, Saurabh Shukla
Director: Raj Kumar Gupta
Ajay Devgn returns as the honest Deputy Commissioner of the Income Tax department in Raid 2. While the film was billed as a sequel, his wife is now played by Vaani Kapoor instead of Ileana D’Cruz. Ajay locks horns with Riteish Deshmukh in his 75th raid, which has been touted as the most challenging aspect of his career. But was this sequel as good as its predecessor? Let’s find out.
Raid 2 has a half-baked plot
Set in the late 1980s, Ajay Devgn (Amay Patnaik) embarks on his 75th raid against Riteish Deshmukh (Dada Manohar Bhai), which is being suggested as based on a true story. Riteish is a politician who rose to power after selling chappals (footwear) and uses the term as his go-to metaphor after being insulted for wearing them instead of shoes. He is a mama’s boy and runs a foundation in her name to whitewash his illegal dealings. Ajay gets a whiff of the corruption and narrows this as his next mission. He is aided by his fellow officers, who rip apart places in search of black money, only to return empty-handed.
The story develops into a game of who remains standing amid the chaos, and it barely does anything to give you a surreal cinematic experience that should at least allow you to scratch your head and guess their next move. It sadly ends up being predictable, with not a single moment in a runtime of over 2 hours that would make you gasp.
Funny though, it also serves as a comprehensive chappal commercial with the dialogues and cinematography revolving around the accessory. It holds significance for Riteish, but the constant focus on Ajay’s feet is not something the viewer signed up for.
Power-packed performances
One thing we can’t deny about Ajay Devgn is that he knows how to keep it subtle where it is necessary. In no way does he come across as this macho lead who can turn things in his stride with immediate effect. He fails, learns, and fights back harder. It was refreshing to see a dollop of vulnerability in his character.
That being said, Riteish outshines here with his intense stare, surprisingly, which is Ajay’s USP! One glance and it could send chills down the spine. He should keep up this villainous streak instead of succumbing to poorly written comedy roles.
Vaani Kapoor ticked the box of a female lead, but did add to the narrative as Ajay’s better half, who is looking out for him when he seemingly hits the end of the tunnel. The surprise element was Amit Sial, who elevated this lethargic plot with his acting prowess and comic timing. He was a treat to watch on screen and should have been introduced in the first half for better engagement. The audience did have a good laugh, courtesy of his performance. Veterans Saurabh Shukla and Supriya Pathak also added tremendous value to the film.
Final Verdict
Raid 2 has been directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, who also helmed the first part. Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop the two films from being compared because the predecessor was indeed a class apart from what we’re seeing in 2025. One of his best works, No One Killed Jessica, is where he set the bar for himself. Raid 2, however, failed to maintain the same calibre with regards to its onscreen impact.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
