Hiren Kotwani (BOMBAY TIMES; June 11, 2014)

After comedies and romances, upcoming film Ek Villain has Riteish Deshmukh in a never-seen-before avatar, that of an unassuming guy with a hidden sinister streak. Pleased with the response the trailers have garnered, director Mohit Suri, who has kept the character under wraps so far, is finally ready to spill the beans. He says, “There's something evil about a person who is so regular and ordinary otherwise Riteish's character, Rakesh Suri, lurks in the shadows. He's not loud and in-yourface, but his mere presence can be unnerving."

About casting Riteish in a role like this, the filmmaker says, “He was my first and only choice. Not because of what he had done, but for what I thought he was capable of doing."

The actor admits he couldn't resist the role. “I play a middle-class family man, who is frustrated over society's unfair treatment. It's a departure from what I've done so far," explains Riteish, who is also looking forward to the release of a new song, lease of a new song, Awari, from the film.

Ek Villain, produced by Balaji Motion Pictures, releases June 27.