Critics Rating:2.5 Stars*

Cast: Sidharth Malhotra, Shraddha Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh, Kamaal Rashid Khan, Shaad Randhawa, Aamna Sharif, RemoFernandes,

Direction: Mohit Suri

Produced: Ekta Kapoor Shobha Kapoor.

Genre:Romance

Duration:: 2 hours 10 minutes

Ek Villain had a lot of potential to become a great movie. But falls apart due to mediocre direction.

Aisha (Shraddha Kapoor) is a terminally ill girl who wants to live life to the fullest and fulfil all her wishes till she is alive. She notices Guru (Sidharth Malhotra) in the police lock up and gets impressed by his non fearing attitude. With his help, she manages to release old people from mental hospital and get them re-married. Guru gets impressed and after he comes to know that Aisha is terminally ill, he promises to help her fulfill all her wishes. In the process, they end up falling in love, getting married and Guru gets reformed.

Rakesh (Riteish Deshmukh), a lower middle class type married man is constantly insulted by his cribby wife verbally and it gets on to him when other females also insult him and crib a lot. This results in Rakesh becoming a serial killer who tortures and murders females, including Aisha, who insult him and crib in front of him, with a screwdriver. Guru comes to know that Rakesh is the murderer of his wife and bashes him and promises to make his life hell till he is alive, gives him money for treatment & drops him to the hospital. The climax is about the obvious fight between Guru and Rakesh.

The music is suberb as usual (in Mohit Suri’s film) – particularly the Galliyaan song.

All the three main actors – Riteish Deshmukh (superb as devil and a common man), Sidharth Malhotra (brooding looks and menacing) and Shradha Kapoor (very bubbly and pretty smile) have acted quite well.

There are 2 good cameos – Remo D’souza as Caesar (the Don of Goa) and Kamaal Khan.

Some of the scenes have been shot with great gusto (the serial killing and conversation with his victim by Riteish Deshmukh).

One particular thing which always is unbelievable and needs to change in Bollywood, Hollywood and movies all around the world are the action scenes. In EK VILLAIN, Sidharth Malhotra bashes up around 20 people single handedly. Is it possible in real life? Make it look realistic.

The film had lot of scope for emotions, but fails in this particular category.

Anyways, watch Ek Villain for the performances, good music and unusual plot.