Raid 2 Movie Review & Release Live updates: Ajay Devgn starrer is a faithful sequel that wallows in self-admiration

One fan gushed, “Ajay Devgn slips into Amay Patnaik mode like he never left. That calm vibe, those intense eyes, and silent confidence... too good yaar. #Raid2 #AjayDevgn.

Showering praises on Raid 2, a Twitter review read, “Finished watching #Raid2 one word review -FANTASTIC ????Terrific first half engaging,entertaining,thrilling. Post interval film slips a little but is compensated with very well executed climax. Appreciation for Dialogue, execution,acting& humour This one is a MUST WATCH 3.5/5

Ajay Devgn spoke about his role as the honest IRS officer Amey Patnaik in Raid 2, highlighting how people often blame corruption in today's society.







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Ajay Devgn and Suriya exchanged warm wishes ahead of their film releases. Suriya took to Twitter to send love to the teams of '#TouristFamily', '#HIT3', and '#Raid2'. He wrote, "Dearest Sasi & Simran, Nani, Ajay sir & Riteish, all the cast & crew of #TouristFamily #HIT3 #Raid2 Wishing you the bestest! #Anbannafans Lots of love and respect for your support for #Retro... May each of our films be a success & entertain the audience in theatres tomorrow."

Ajay replied, “Thank you for your wishes brother. All the love & luck to you for Retro too. Hoping we all make a mark and get the silver screens buzzing ????????”

'Raid 2' doesn’t simply resume where the first one ended – it takes the story further by digging deeper into the clash between honesty and political corruption. This layered conflict is what’s keeping fans fully engaged. Packed with drama, action, and a sense of purpose, the sequel raises the stakes in a gripping way. As one viewer shared on X, “#Raid2 is a powerful continuation of the first film, blending suspense, drama, and action with a strong moral backbone. The story dives deeper into the battle between integrity and political corruption, with a sharp narrative that keeps you hooked throughout…”

At the trailer launch on April 8, 2025, Ajay Devgn and Vaani Kapoor opened up about their roles. Ajay addressed his character Amay Patnaik getting a new wife after Ileana D’Cruz played the role in Raid (2018). He said, “You see it in a lot of Hollywood films also. Still, Sean Connery is not the James Bond. It’s the character you follow, and then new people keep coming in.”

Vaani, who now plays Ajay’s partner, laughed and added, “No jealousy with the previous one. We share a great equation off-screen.”
She shared that the role was ‘new’ and ‘refreshing’ for her, showing a different side of her talent.

According to early estimates by industry tracker Sacnilk, 'Raid 2' has collected around Rs. 9.77 crore across India by 4 PM on its opening day. That’s a decent start for a weekday, boosted by the partial Labour Day holiday.

Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 has opened to strong advance bookings, with around 86,000 tickets sold across national chains like PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis for day one—surpassing the advance of his earlier hit Shaitaan. Trade analysts are predicting a robust start at the box office, with opening day collections expected to fall in the range of ₹15–17 crore nett.

Ajay Devgn returns as IRS officer Amay Patnaik in Raid 2, now playing in theatres from May 1. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, the crime thriller pits Patnaik against Riteish Deshmukh’s powerful antagonist. The film is expected to arrive on Netflix around six weeks post-release.

One Twitter review read, "Thank God 2nd half saved the sinking ship and literally enjoyed every second of the second half, everyone went crazy in theater in Raid specially at the hotel scene."

Recently, at a 'Raid 2' event, Yo Yo Honey Singh shared an anecdote about arriving four hours late to the shoot of the song 'Aata Majhi Satakli' for the film 'Singham Returns.' Upon his late arrival, Singh was met with a stern look from lead actor Ajay Devgn, which made him feel as though he was about to be reprimanded. Despite the initial tension, the shoot proceeded smoothly, and the song became a popular hit. Singh's quick turnaround in composing and recording the track, despite time constraints, showcased his dedication to the project.

One Twitter user wrote, "#OneWordReview... #Raid2: GRIPPING. Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½ Sharp. Edgy. Engaging... Solid second half, powerhouse performances [#AjayDevgn, #RiteishDeshmukh], thunderous dialogue are major highlights... First half works in parts... Overall, lives up to expectations. #Raid2Review Plusses... ⭐️ Director #RajkumarGupta handles the dramatic tension with finesse – the confrontational scenes, in particular, are superb. ⭐️ The second half is the film's biggest strength: tight, tense, and captivating. ⭐️ #AjayDevgn is in top form – understated, intense, and commanding... When it comes to intensity, he is notches above most contemporaries. ⭐️ #RiteishDeshmukh is a revelation, he is outstanding... A restrained, menacing act that demands attention... His silences speak, his eyes do the talking."

Though the box office is witnessing a clash of the biggest releases today, the superstars headlining them have shown great respect for one another. Taking to the social media handle, Suriya on April 30th wrote - "Dearest Sasi & Simran, Nani, Ajay sir & Riteish, all the cast & crew of #TouristFamily #HIT3 #Raid2 Wishing you the bestest!#Anbannafans Lots of love and respect for your support for #Retro... May each of our films be a success & entertain the audience in theatres tomorrow."

Replying to the same, Ajay Devgn in a tweet mentioned - "Thank you for your wishes brother. All the love & luck to you for Retro too. Hoping we all make a mark and get the silver screens buzzing ????????"

The second time around, Raj Kumar Gupta mounts his crime drama on a bigger scale. A brooding Patnaik dressed in formals, enjoys Singham like slowmo entry, glamour, and clout. He can be transferred or suspended but he is always in power much against the odds. Ritiesh Deshmukh makes for an interesting no-nonsense, white collared antihero Dadabhai. He is a prodigal son, revered philanthropist and a powerful political leader. He is too good to be true and that leads Patnaik to go sniffing after his massive empire and assets. The two outsmart each other in a series of deceitful activities but only one can emerge victorious.

According to Bollywood Hungama, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has suggested changes to the upcoming film 'Raid 2', starring Ajay Devgn. Specifically, the CBFC recommended replacing the term "Railway Mantri" with "Bada Mantri" and removing an eight-second dialogue at the film's beginning that included the words "Paisa, hathyar, taakat". These modifications were made to ensure the content aligns with certification guidelines. Following these changes, 'Raid 2' was granted a U/A 7+ certificate, making it one of the first major Hindi films to receive this new age-specific rating introduced in November 2024. The film, directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, has a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 31 minutes and continues the story of honest officer Amay Patnaik.

There was a time when Riteish Deshmukh had to face personal remarks from film critics. Reflecting on the same, in an interview with Bollywood Bubble, he said, “I was new in the industry, mujhe criticism se problem nahi thi. Kya hota hai na ki, I had an issue where kuch critics criticism chod ke personal ho jaate the. I am OK, jaise mere hisse criticism aaya tha ki ‘Riteish is as wooden as furniture in a furniture shop in the movie.’”

Ajay Devgn’s much-awaited sequel Raid 2 has finally hit theatres, and the early Twitter buzz suggests it may just be a fitting sequel to its 2018 box-office hit. Social media is abuzz with praise for the film’s gripping narrative, standout performances, and intense second half, setting it as a strong follow-up to the original that delves into the murky world of corruption and scams.

Those who caught the early shows, took to their social media handles to share their honest review “#OneWordReview… #Raid2: GRIPPING” they said and added, “Sharp. Edgy. Engaging..."

Raid 2, the sequel to Ajay Devgn's hit 2018 crime thriller, hits the big screens today, May 1. As the film gets ready to make a splash at the box office, looking forward to scoring another hit, fans on social media are abuzz with speculation about its tentative OTT release.

According to reports, Raid 2 has secured its digital release with the streaming giant Netflix. The Devgn-led crime thriller will reportedly stream online after completing its cinema run. OTTPlay.com states that the streaming giant has acquired the digital rights to the film, with its premiere expected in late June or early July 2025. This ensures that the movie will adhere to its standard 60-day theatrical release window. This model has been followed by most major Hindi releases, irrespective of box office performances.

Marvel Studios' latest superhero offering, Thunderbolts, is set to make a thunderous debut at the global box office.

The film, which has already garnered strong critical acclaim, is projected to earn over $175 million worldwide in its opening weekend, according to a report by Deadline.

In the US alone, Thunderbolts is expected to rake in between $70 million and $75 million, with international markets contributing an additional $90 million to $100 million.

Riteish Deshmukh revealed that he has rejected at least 10-12 films in which he was offered a negative role.

"It is not that I have ever thought that I have to play the role of an antagonist or do films.

That depends on the film. There were at least 10-12 films in between to which I said no, in which there was the role of an antagonist because I did not like that story. It is not that I have to play the role of an antagonist or play the role of a big hero," added Riteish.

Riteish Deshmukh is set to play the role of an antagonist, a corrupt politician, in the upcoming film Raid 2, starring Ajay Devgn in the lead role.
After an impressive performance as the antagonist in 'Ek Villian' and 'Marjaavaan', the fans of the 'Ved' actor are eagerly waiting for his next film 'Raid 2' which features him as a corrupt politician.

For the actor, the film's script is a major factor for him to decide if he wants to don a negative role in it or not.

Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Riteish Deshmukh shared that he often focuses on the emotional graph of his character while reading the script.

"I should like the story and then I should like the character. What am I doing in the film? And it is very important for me to have an emotional graph of the character, which was in Ek Villain, which was in Marjawa and I think which is also in Raid 2," said Riteish.

'Raid 2', which stars Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh in lead roles, is all set to hit the theatres this Thursday. From cast to makers, the film's entire team has been on a promotional spree. On Tuesday, producers Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak sat down with ANI for a candid conversation.

During the interaction, the trio not only opened up about their film but also shared their views on the current state of Hindi film industry.

When asked why theatrical releases are struggling, Bhushan Kumar said, "Something happened due to COVID. After that, a lot of content started appearing on OTT platforms, which continued to entertain people from home. And when people started coming back to the theatre, the content was somehow not as per their expectations. Now things are better. See, Jaat worked, Chhaava, Kesari 2, Diplomat..so many films became successful. Now, 'Raid 2' is coming. Hope this will also work and entertain people."

Actress Shruti Pandey will be a part of Ajay Devgn and Riteish Deshmukh's upcoming crime thriller, "Raid 2". During a conversation with IANS, Shruti revealed if she was pranked by Ajay during the shoot of the sequel.

When asked if Ajay pulled any pranks on set, Shruti told IANS, "I actually said recently that I hope to be part of some pranks in my future projects! But during this shoot, I wasn’t involved in any. They did have their fun on set, but I wasn’t part of those moments. Hopefully next time!"

Sharing her experience of working with Ajay and Riteish, Shruti stated, "It was truly special. Getting a chance to work with such legendary actors was a huge milestone for me. Being on set with them and watching their process was a beautiful experience. There’s always something to learn—from how they approach a scene to their technical understanding of a shot. It was a great learning opportunity, and the atmosphere on set was very warm and friendly."

Ajay Devgn's highly anticipated sequel, Raid 2, has already made waves at the box office before its official release. According to early trade estimates, the film's advance bookings have crossed an impressive Rs 10 crore for Day 1 alone, signalling a good opening for the crime thriller.

Directed by Rajkumar Gupta, Raid 2 continues the story of fearless IRS officer Amay Patnaik as he takes on a powerful new adversary in the world of black money and corruption. The buzz around the film has been steadily building, with fans excited to see Devgn in action.

According to a report on sacnilk.com, the film scored an estimated Rs 6.51 crore on Day 1 from the sale of around 2,32,134 tickets for an estimated 12,212 shows. In addition to the blocked seats, the film's overall total with blocked seats is estimated at Rs 9.67 crore.

With the film almost touching the Rs 10 crore mark, it remains to be seen if it has what it takes to score a box office win over the extended May 1 weekend.

On working with Ajay and Riteish, Rajkumar was all praise for them.

He said, "They both are fabulous actors. They both liked the script and immediately agreed to work on the film. Truly loved working with them as they both delivered a 'dhamakedar performance'. Audience will love their face-off."

Filmmaker Rajkumar Gupta shared his experience on working on the sequel to his hit film.
"I agree we took a long time to come up with a sequel but it was important to create a good story and we worked really hard on it. Audience perception of sequels can vary. Some will also draw comparisons between the first part and second but it's part and parcel of expanding a franchise," Rajkumar told ANI.

The makers of “Raid 2” on Wednesday released the second track, ‘Kamle,’ from the film. The composer duo Sachet-Parampara said that from the moment they started working on the song, they knew it had something special.

The song showcases the stunning landscapes of Rajasthan while highlighting the love and chemistry between Ajay Devgn and Vaani Kapoor. The song, which is packed with passion, groove, and irresistible hooks, has lyrics penned by Kausar Munir.

Talking about the song, the composer duo said, “Creating ‘Kamle’ was an incredible experience for us. It’s one of those songs that instantly lifts your mood.”

“From the moment we started working on it, we knew it had something special—an effortless blend of love, exploration, and vibrant energy. We’ve played around with the sound to make it feel fresh and unique, and we’re so excited for everyone to experience it,” they added.

Gupta said two of his projects didn't come to fruition, including "Section 84" with Kareena Kapoor Khan and a biopic on an Indian spy Ravindra Kaushik, known as the Black Tiger, with Salman Khan.

"I was doing that ('Section 84') a long time ago. With Mr. Salman Khan there was one film on which we were talking about with Atul (Khan's brother-in-law Agnihotri) and Alvira (Khan's sister). There was talk of bringing Ravindra Kaushik biopic.

"I had the rights and then it expired and I did not renew it. So, we did not do it. I believe all films come with destiny, so whoever is destined to do it, will do it. Maybe I was not destined to do it."

Casting a villain is one of the most important decisions, said director Rajkumar Gupta.

"As a director, you have to see how he (Deshmukh's role) will enter the film and where it will all end, what's his journey. So, it is very important to cast it right for any character. But here it is more important because he is equal to the protagonist.

"Once my writers had finished writing, then we decided, 'ab kisko cast karen?" I had worked with Riteish (on the series 'Pill') and the character suited him, and he is such a brilliant actor. I've followed his work for quite some time. He has done so many varied characters in films," he said.

When asked about changing the leading lady for the sequel, Gupta said, "It happens all the time".

He also said that this change should not be viewed "negatively".

"I think these things happen. Ileana was part of 'Raid', and she was great in it, and she is still part of the 'Raid' family. This time it's Vaani (Kapoor), it came nicely together, like both the characters. The character is the same, the actor has changed. It's seven years ahead (of the first part). So, the actor has changed, and there is no negativity to that."

It's a common belief that sequels and franchise movies come with a built-in safety net, says "Raid 2" director Rajkumar Gupta. Gupta is returning with a sequel to his 2018 blockbuster hit "Raid" that featured Ajay Devgn in the role of IRS officer Amay Patnaik.
"I don't think anything is safe, that's a myth that making the second part will be safe. Unless and until it calls for a sequel and you have to have a story for that, I don't believe in an easy way out. Sequels are working and there is no rocket science to that. They are working because of familiarity," the director, known for critically-acclaimed films like "Aamir", and "No One Killed Jessica", told PTI in an interview.

"Raid" focused on real-life raids conducted by income tax department in the 1980s. The sequel, he said, once again focuses on true cases.

Gupta said it has taken him almost four years to come up with a sequel. He praised Devgn for his performance in both the movies.

"He is such a brilliant actor that we didn't need to do much but get the script right. Our approach was to get the story, character right, and make sure he doesn't look out of the character," the director said.

"We followed what the script demanded. Ajay sir is known to do different films and whatever the character demands, he does that."