Maverick director Raj Kumar Gupta applies the rules of larger-than-life heroes to this new chapter featuring an unsung Income Tax officer, a character he created almost seven years ago. The major change is that Ileana D’Cruz, who played the docile wife earlier, is now replaced by Vaani Kapoor. Meanwhile, Taoji (Saurabh Shukla) is in jail awaiting parole, and his earlier role is now portrayed by none other than Riteish Deshmukh.
If the first instalment was set during the Indira Gandhi regime, the sequel unfolds in the V.P. Singh era. Without overtly stressing its intent, the film critiques the politics of social justice and coalition governments. The honest hero, Amay Patnaik, confronts a villain from a backward community, who rose from the chappal business. A shapeshifting bureaucrat bows to both sides, bearing no caste-defining surname.
This time, the upright and stiff-looking IT Commissioner Amay Patnaik (Ajay Devgn) returns to take on a powerful Bhuj-based businessman-turned-Cabinet Minister, Dadabhai (Riteish Deshmukh). The latter is a slick and cunning adversary, ironically celebrating a silver jubilee of transfers due to his integrity.
The devious Rajasaheb (Govind Namdeo) frames Amay in a bribery scandal involving two crore rupees, resulting in his suspension. Not one but four sharp writers – Aditya Belnekar, Ritesh Shah, Karan Vyas, and Jaideep Yadav – collaborate to weave a taut conspiracy that leads Amay straight to Dadabhai’s doorstep.
Ajay Devgn fits the IT Commissioner role, though his stiff portrayal feels monotonous. Amit Sial as Lallan Sudhir, who replaces Amay post-suspension, stands out with a performance that seamlessly switches shades like a chameleon. Supriya Pathak Kapoor leaves a solid impact, while Vaani Kapoor is just about passable. Tamannaah Bhatia is underused, reduced to a mere item number.
Shruti Pandey shines as Geeta, a female version of Daya (from CID), and Sudhir Chaudhary’s cinematography deserves praise.
Producer – Kumar Pathak and Abhishek Pathak
Director – Rajkumar Gupta
Star Cast – Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Vaani Kapoor, Govind Namdeo, Saurabh Shukla, Amit Sial, Yashpal Sharma, and Tamannaah Bhatia
Genre – Thriller
Platform of Release – TheatresRating – ★★½
