To say “the countdown begins for Raid 2” feels overly simplistic considering how the sequel has, for the most part, been considered the most awaited sequel of all time ever since Ajay Devgn starred in “Raid” back in 2018, which was arguably, the first real crime thriller Bollywood movie of its decade. The film will be released on May 1, 2025, featuring Ajay “once again” as the uncompromising IRS officer Amay Patnaik, this time going up against a heavy political weight played by Riteish Deshmukh. Whether it’s the promise of a captivating story with jaw-dropping action or the intricate tales of black money and power, we know the film will keep up with the expectations. Raj Kumar Gupta knows how to execute these themes well in his movies.
The Plot: A Raid Against the Untouchable
As we are all familiar with the genre of thrillers, this is exactly how The sequel starts, years after the event of the “Raid 2” with Amay Patnaik, now an acclaimed officer for his pursuit of corruption, being, well, the pursued and having learned from his experiences of the past. Now, His newest charge is Dada Manohar Bhai, played by Riteish Deshmukh, who happens to be a politician-businessman and a charming and vexing figure whose empire is in illegal business like mining, embezzlement of taxes, and laundering of money. From the chaotic and busy city of Mumbai, Patnaik’s investigation takes him to the desert of Rajasthan, revealing a network of deceit, which includes bureaucrats, lawmakers, and rogue, psychologically organised criminals.
Director Raj Kumar Gupta emphasised realism in the film by stating, “We studied real-life income tax raids for authenticity. This isn’t just action; it’s a psychological duel between two titans.”
Star Cast: Powerhouse Performances
Devgn portrays Amay Patnaik for the second time, and Akshay Kumar effortlessly embodies the character’s teetering emotional strength and deep resolve. He puts his family’s safety on the line while fighting for justice.
Riteish Deshmukh gives a career-best dual performance as the Dada Manohar Bhai. This role showcases his villainous side while he charms his way into Wen the viewer’s heart. “Transforming into Dada Manohar Bhai was both thrilling and exciting since I had to throw away my logic-defying comic timing instincts,” Dishmukh disclosed.
Patnaik’s wife is noted for her cherishing commitment to the emotional scenery of the story. Resumed by the booming statement of Gupta, “her role acts as a steadier throughout the pandemonium.”
Supporting cast: Saurabh Shukhla and Supriya Pathak play the roles of first-man allies, while Amit Sial is a cross-fire ex-colleague of Patnaik.
Behind the scenes: Filming Issues
In the care of Raid 2’s shooting, the professional crew had almost overlapped every season while rotating around the sun—if not stopped. Starting in January of twenty-two, two more mentions include Mumbai, the border of Rajasthan, and even deep in Delhi. Putting the icing (arguable) on the hot cake, peddling the sun to blaze at an outdoor 40 as required. The anti-climactic peak for Sunil Rodrigues– the action director, being stripped of showing off his imagination with a mountaineering-before filming worry-free felt without bound props to me, said “the intensity of the surroundings without the cool whip was overwhelming- rawness is so ‘in’ nowadays!”
A major raid scene involving fire and 200 extras occurred in a fort during the night in Jaipur for 12 nights. “We wanted the audience to feel the chaos of a real raid,” Gupta continued.
In conjunction with this track, one could put on:
Nasha: A seductive dance song starring Tamannaah Bhatia, recorded in a lit Mumbai warehouse.
Money Money: A fast bass party song featuring Jacqueline Fernandez and Yo Yo Honey Singh, filmed at a suburban nightclub during the night.
Kamle: A spooky instrumental theme underneath raid parts.
As for the tracks with suspense, seen to be composed by the great Amit Trivedi as well as Yo Yo Honey Singh players with more energy nashi obviously, the music and the songs are suspenseful “The music mirrors the protagonist’s journey-from calm to chaos,” said Trivedi.
Trailer Outburst Break Records A soundtrack for everyone, and more buzz among people
As for the music, it was underappreciated for its quality and truly eye-catching, with them blasting off with unthinkable numbers, breaking records as Devgn’s aggression was brought up to in praise as Deshmukh watched the screen with an attention-grabbing presence. “This isn’t a raid; this is a dormant war,” double up, saying, “The greatest drag net Releasing on 15th of kung fu 2025, it hit a whopping 25 million views in 48 hours, getting a lot of conversations coming, time being taken just to compare them Trademark, the serving table, a prediction of finishing with 50 crores in a weekend getting his wish while thanks to Devgn melody’s proven track record”. Trampoline festival holiday weekend.
Real Life Strikes Close to Home: Where Reality and Fantasy Collide
The story seems to draw on the striking 2024 story of tax officials confiscating ˈidrōr saska grōn from a Maharashtra politician. Gupta explains, “To avoid fictionalised events, we carefully crafted a story to address legal constraints. But the core power, greed, and redemption exceed any political bounds.”
Box Office: The Bhootnii Strikes Back
Raid 2 competitors include The Bhootnii, a slasher horror comedy starring legendary actors Sanjay Dutt and Mouni Roy. Despite the competition, screenings for the horror flick are being minimised to almost 30%. It is estimated that 70% of all screens will be designated solely for Raid 2. “Surcharged viewing for Devgn films is still a common practice in tier 2 cities and, in most cases, could be the deciding factor in rough cities, said multiplex manager Mehta.
Producer’s Perspective: Never Ending Possibilities
Potential options for the third instalment, aiming to cross-outline the border projections of financial crimes, were also brought into perspective, the same to deficit spending. “We are seeking to bridge the gap between the demands of modern-day audiences and reality. This is what they want, and that’s what we aim to provide,” he explained.
A Suspenseful Film That Demands to be Watched
Touted as the summer’s box office hit, Raid 2 features a superb cast and well-structured screenplay. It also puts Devgn’s unyielding spirit front and centre, making it the go-to movie for obsessive fans of gritty dramas and intense siege films.
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