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'She's too classy for Bollywood': Ileana D'Cruz's gracious response to Vaani Kapoor replacing her in Raid 2 wins hearts

Ileana D'Cruz praised Vaani Kapoor for her performance in Raid 2 as she revealed why she was not a part of the film.

Published on: Jun 1, 2025, 14:20:43 IST
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Actor Ileana D'Cruz, who played Ajay Devgn's wife in Raid, was replaced by Vaani Kapoor in the sequel — a casting change that left many fans puzzled. Now, Ileana has finally revealed why she didn’t return for Raid 2, and her response is winning hearts on social media. (Also Read: Raid 2 trailer: Ajay Devgn creates chakravyuh for Riteish Deshmukh in thrilling story high on nostalgia)

Ileana D'Cruz finally reacts to being replaced in Raid 2 by Vaani Kapoor.
Ileana D'Cruz finally reacts to being replaced in Raid 2 by Vaani Kapoor.

Ileana D'Cruz breaks silence on absence from Raid 2

During an AMA session on Instagram, a fan asked, "Missed you in Raid 2 and missing you in Indian films. When are you making a comeback?" In response, Ileana revealed that she had been offered the role in Raid 2 but declined it due to scheduling issues. She wrote, "I miss working in movies too, and I would have loved to be a part of Raid 2. Raid was a special film, and Malini was such a special character to play. 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."

Ileana D'Cruz's response to Vaani Kapoor replacing her in Raid 2.
Ileana D'Cruz's response to Vaani Kapoor replacing her in Raid 2.

She also praised Vaani Kapoor, who replaced her in the film, and wrote, "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."

A Reddit user shared Ileana's reply on the platform, and fans couldn't stop appreciating the actor for her grace and humility. One comment read: “Wow, what a lovely gracious reply. First time I’ve ever heard a heroine praise someone else so much. Ileana was always too classy for Bollywood.” Another added, "Just lifted her competitor up without any selfishness."

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Fans also defended Ileana when a Reddit user remarked that she should have clarified the situation earlier to avoid backlash for the makers. One user wrote: “She has a lot more to do in her life than post on social media about why she is or isn't doing projects.” Another said, "Lol what? She declined and moved on in life. Why does she owe clarifications?"

About Raid 2

Helmed by Raj Kumar Gupta, the film is a sequel to Raid and stars Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh and Vaani Kapoor in lead roles, along with Rajat Kapoor, Saurabh Shukla, Supriya Pathak and Amit Sial in key roles. In a month, the film has collected 228 crore worldwide.

  • Riya Sharma
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Riya Sharma

    Riya Sharma is a content producer at Hindustan Times who lives and breathes entertainment. If there’s gossip making noise in Bollywood or a reality show moment breaking the internet, chances are she’s already writing about it. She loves digging out the juiciest stories, spotting viral pegs and turning it into easy-to-read content. A journalism graduate from IP University, Riya began her career as a social media executive, where she learned the art of grabbing attention in a scroll-heavy world. But her love for showbiz soon pulled her into entertainment journalism, because for her, it’s always been entertainment, entertainment and more entertainment. An artist at heart, Riya has a deep passion for acting, music and dance, which shapes how she watches and writes about films and reality shows. She loves sharing her views and reviews, especially when something excites, surprises or completely disappoints her. A hardcore reality show fan, Riya enjoys tracking every twist, task and meltdown, and breaking them down for readers who can’t get enough of high-voltage drama. Movies are equally close to her heart, whether it’s a big theatrical release or a binge-worthy OTT series, she’s always watching, and analysing what’s worth the time. She loves talking to celebrities, asking questions that go beyond the usual. When she’s not working, she’s either glued to a new web series, hunting for underrated thrillers on OTT platforms, or rewatching iconic Bollywood moments.Read More

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