Krutika Behrawala (BOMBAY TIMES; June 30, 2014)

The last two Fridays have witnessed completely different avatars of Riteish Deshmukh. While he showcased his funny side in the comedy Humshakals -a genre he has successfully built his career on -- he broke out of his comfort zone for Mohit Suri's thriller, Ek Villain. His portrayal of Rakesh Mahadkar, a dark and edgy serial killer, received a thumbs up from the audience and the industry. Next, he will play a hardcore action hero in his Marathi production, Lai Bhaari, directed by Nishikant Kamat. Reveals an insider, “The double-digit opening figures of Riteish's previous films - Housefull 2, Grand Masti and Humshakals, followed by the latest, Ek Villain - proves that he is a bankable star. While he is known as a good actor, he has now proved that he is versatile, too."

The actor says, “Receiving appreciation from the critics and the audience increases your creative appetite and I am hungry to portray different characters. These have been the most eventful months of my life. With genres of comedy and thriller done, I'm looking forward to my action-drama in Marathi.“