Bhushan Kumar on Raid 2 clashing with Hit 3: Hindi dubbed films market is limited

Bhushan Kumar on ‘Raid 2’ clashing with Hit 3: Hindi dubbed films market is limited

Seven years after Raid made its mark, its highly anticipated sequel, Raid 2, is all set to hit theatres on May 1. Starring Ajay Devgn reprising his role as the honest and relentless Income Tax officer Amay Patnaik, the film promises a gripping narrative steeped in corruption, power struggles, and intense confrontations.

This time, Ajay Devgn’s character will lock horns with a formidable new opponent, Dadabhai, portrayed by Riteish Deshmukh. As advance bookings begin, anticipation is running high — but the film faces stiff competition on its release day from two major pan-Indian films: Nani’s Hit: The Third Case and Suriya’s Retro.

However, producer Bhushan Kumar remains confident and unshaken. Speaking exclusively to News18 Showsha, Bhushan Kumar dismissed the idea of Hit 3 or Retro posing any real threat to Raid 2. “Barring the A++ films like the franchise ones such as Pushpa, till date, there’s no parameter to check if these films have worked in the northern belt,” he said. “I think that the market for Hindi dubbed films is very limited for these specific films.”

According to Bhushan Kumar, the confidence comes not just from the brand value of Raid, but also from the film’s strong screen presence.

“I don’t think these films will pose any competition for us. Our film Raid 2 is getting about 4000 screens all across the country. We’re getting the best showcasing. So, I don’t think we’re facing any threat,” he asserted.

Also Read: The Smashing Machine Trailer OUT: Dwayne Johnson starrer to explore highs and lows of MMA fighter Mark Kerr

Echoing his sentiment, co-producer Kumar Mangat Pathak added that there is ample space for all the films to perform. “All the films are targeting multiplexes but humaare film ke shows ki kami nahi hai. The shows for all films will be divided properly,” Pathak stated, highlighting the belief that healthy competition can coexist within a growing film ecosystem.

Abhishek Pathak, another producer on the project and director of Drishyam 2, also chimed in with optimism. “I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for any of the films because the market is massive. They’ve a certain market and we’ve a certain market,” he said. “For two-three films releasing on the same day, isn’t a problem these days. If a film starts doing well in terms of marketing and the trailer, people will choose it.”

As Bollywood grapples with a period of inconsistency at the box office, producers are keenly aware of the shifting tastes of audiences. Bhushan Kumar emphasized the importance of diverse storytelling as a way forward. “That’s the only way for more and more films to work at the box office and for the entire ecosystem to survive in the long term,” he said. “Audiences always observe, pick and watch good content. A film may have a good actor who has a box office pull but it’s ultimately the story that should work. If the content doesn’t work, that same artist won’t be able to do anything.”