Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 19, 2017)

Even before their first collaboration, Milan Luthria’s period-heist-thriller Baadshaho opens, two-time National Award winner, Ajay Devgn, and his leading lady Ileana D’Cruz are reuniting for Raj Kumar Gupta’s next film, Raid, based on the real story of one of the most high-profile income tax raids in the country. Ajay plays a no-nonsense IT officer and Ileana is his love interest in a role crucial to the narrative. “Ileana had been in talks for a second film with Ajay since the duo started filming together earlier this year. Rumours have been rife over the last month but the team only made it official last week. She’s expected to sign on the dotted line shortly,” reveals a source.

Set in Uttar Pradesh in the ’80s, the film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat and Abhishek Pathak. It has been scripted by Ritesh Shah of Pink and Airlift fame. It is expected to roll a week after Baadshaho’s release on September 1 and is scheduled to release on April 20, 2018.

Ileana, who was last seen in the Anees Bazmee romcom, Mubarakan, plays Gitanjali in Baadshaho, the perfect foil to Bhawani (Ajay), the leader of the “badasses”. Their sizzling chemistry in the recently released romantic song, “Mere Rashke Qamar” has been much appreciated. “That’s what convinced the makers that she was the perfect fit for Ajay’s Raid,” the source adds.