Why Riteish Deshmukh Chooses Villain Roles with Emotional Arcs

April 30, 2025: Riteish Deshmukh is set to take on a dark role once again, playing a corrupt politician in the upcoming crime drama Raid 2, starring Ajay Devgn. Known for his compelling performances as an antagonist in Ek Villain and Marjaavaan, Deshmukh says his choice to return to a negative role hinges entirely on the script’s strength.

“I should like the story and then I should like the character,” Deshmukh told . “What am I doing in the film? And it is very important for me to have an emotional graph of the character.”

The Ved actor revealed that he has turned down 10–12 villain roles in the past due to unconvincing scripts. “It is not that I have to play the role of an antagonist or play the role of a big hero,” he said.

Reuniting with director Raj Kumar Gupta after their work on the TV series Pill, Deshmukh expressed his complete trust in the filmmaker. “Whatever work I do, I do not need to look at the monitor. Nor do I need to go to the edit,” he said. “That is how much I trust Raj sir.”

Raid 2, also featuring Vaani Kapoor in a pivotal role, is slated for release in theatres on May 1.