Ileana D'Cruz explains her absence from Raid 2 and the big screen, says "I miss working in movies too..."

Ileana D'Cruz says she misses working in films

Currently expecting her second child, actress Ileana D'Cruz has been updating her fans on social media with glimpses of her pregnancy journey.

The actress recently spoke openly to her fans about why she turned down a role in the highly anticipated Raid 2 and why she hasn't been seen on the big screen.

Responding to a fan who asked about her involvement in Raid 2 and her return to films, Ileana expressed her deep connection with the original.

“I miss working in movies too and I would have loved to be a part of Raid 2. Raid was a special film but Malini was such a special character to play and working with my director Raj Kumar Gupta was a wonderful experience as was working with Ajay again. The makers of Raid 2 did offer the movie to me but unfortunately we couldn’t work out the schedule given that I had just had my baby and my priorities are very different at the moment. That said I think Vaani looked lovely in all the promos I’ve seen and I’m sure she brought her own lovely charm to her character. Hope that clears any confusion."

When another follower asked if she planned to return to acting, Ileana replied enthusiastically: “Absolutely.” She even added a touch of humour when asked about her current screen absence, replying, “Because I’m busy with diapers and baby bum cream.”

The romantic comedy-drama Do Aur Do Pyaar, which was directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta and starred Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, and Sendhil Ramamurthy, was Ileana's most recent appearance.

Regarding Raid 2, it has already outperformed its 2018 predecessor, which brought in ₹103.07 crore at the box office. Ajay Devgn returns as IRS officer Amay Patnaik in the follow-up, which debuted in theatres on May 1, 2025.

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Riteish Deshmukh plays the formidable Dada Manohar Bhai. Saurabh Shukla makes a special appearance as Vaani Kapoor assumes the female lead role.

Since her 2006 debut in Devadasu, Ileana has developed a diverse career in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi film. Her fans are excited for her to return to the big screen, even though her priorities have changed for the time being.