Raid 2 is going strong at the Box Office and a large part of its success is being credited to Riteish Deshmukh's chilling performance as the antagonist in the film. This has yet again propelled us to think how underexplored he is as an actor!
As a cinema enthusiast, I’ve always found the antagonists of Hindi cinema more interesting than the protagonists. Speaking strictly in the general sense, Bollywood heroes are mostly depicted as flawless characters with little to no grey shades. They often possess superhuman goodness and relentless kindness with unfaltering commitment towards everything righteous, making them completely superficial. However, that is not the case with antagonists; most of the time, our anti-heroes are given character arcs, layers, and various shades, enabling the actors essaying them to display their acting prowess to the fullest.
Riteish Deshmukh in Raid 2 was one such delight. Widely loved for his impeccable comic timing, he swayed the audience with his portrayal of Dadabhai, a chillingly composed politician, who gets caught in a cat-and-mouse chase with Ajay Devgn’s Amay Patnaik. The film, yet again served as a fine reminder of Deshmukh’s range, versatility, and how underutilized he is as an actor. His nuanced performance in this one and many more testify to the fact that he can dominate a film beyond his comfort zone of comedy.
The audience first saw Deshmukh’s hauntingly sinister side in Mohit Suri’s Ek Villain. His portrayal of Rakesh, a seemingly ordinary middle-class man with a dark, psychopathic side, was one of the biggest cinematic surprises of that year. Not only that, his character, that of a serial killer was shown to be a product of societal pressures and a toxic marriage, a breath of fresh air from the typicality of Bollywood villains.
His chilling dialogue delivery, coupled with a creepy smile and intense expressions, made his character unforgettable and managed to even outshine the leads, Sidharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor. The role also marked a turning point in Deshmukh’s career as his performance proved that he can take on performance-driven roles and do so with conviction and sincerity.
Vishnu - Marjaavaan
Marjaavaan saw Deshmukh essaying a typical filmy villain- Vishnu, a ruthless, larger-than-life, and vertically challenged character, inspired by Lord Vishu’s ‘Vaman’ avatar. The actor managed to pull this role with great ease and flair despite it being bold and theatrical. He was also widely praised for his commanding screen presence and making the depiction look both menacing and emotionally layered. The Milap Zaveri directorial tanked at the box office, however, Deshmukh’s performance was a highlight and showcased his knack of handling different shades of villainy.
Dadabhai - Raid 2
Deshmukh’s latest outing Raid 2 saw him playing a calm and calculated corrupt politician- Dadabhai which came as an interesting departure from the action-heavy and overtly sinister villain roles he had done in the past. His menacing gaze, confident gait, and cunning smile made his face-offs with Ajay Devgn’s character super iconic while brilliantly keeping in line with the duality of Dadabhai’s character - a corrupt man who exploits the vulnerable hiding behind the mask of a dedicated and spotless servant of the public.
He looked extremely convincing as an antagonist who is equally respected and admired as the protagonist in his respective field and that made the rivalry even more fierce and competitive. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, Raid 2 yet again ignited the conversations about his underutilized potential in serious roles with fans expressing their disappointment on his typecasting in comedic roles.
Besides these antagonist roles, Deshmukh also awed viewers with another layered and intense role in the Marathi slice-of-life film 'Ved'. The movie also marked his directorial debut and his portrayal of a grief-stricken alcoholic, navigating heartbreak while being married was one for the ages.
Yes, we agree that Deshmukh in comedies is our go-to character when we need a good laugh after a long day at work. However, it's only fair that Indian filmmakers do justice to his talent and pleasantly surprise the audience with more performance-driven, intense roles that tap into his uncharted skills. Here's hoping!
Which is your favourite Riteish Deshmukh character? Tell us in the comments below!
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