Common Sense Media Review
By Sakhi Thirani
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent Indian serial killer thriller has sexual themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Ek Villain Returns
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In EK VILLAIN RETURNS, a singer, Aarvi Malhotra (Tara Sutaria), is attacked at a party and goes missing at a time when serial killings targeting women are on the rise. After a series of unfortunate events, her boyfriend, Gautam Mehra (Arjun Kapoor), a business tycoon's spoiled and entitled son, and Bhairav Purohit (John Abraham), a cab driver, cross paths. Will Gautam be able to save Aarvi before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
This action thriller directed by Mohit Suri is an illogical catalog of competing toxic masculinities. Ek Villain Returns essentially tells the same story of 2014's Ek Villain, romanticizing brutal crime, serial killers, and female objectification. The film's obsession with villains and heroes becomes its excuse for producing macho alpha men who go to any lengths to tame women they believe they own. Twists and turns come out of nowhere, and reason is utterly thrown out the window. Creepy, disturbing, and unnecessary, this film is a sequel that would've been best left unmade. The way it portrays the extremely crucial subject of gendered crime so matter-of-factly and without any critical exploration is an example of how exploitative media can be. Disappointing, banal, and repetitive, the film leaves a bitter and disturbing residue, having no actual point to make.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Ek Villain Returns. How did it make you feel? Did you find it entertaining, or over the top? Do some types of media violence have a different impact than others?
Did you find the female representation problematic in the film? How did it make you feel? How can you find positive gender representations in movies and on TV?
How did the film represent drinking? Did you think the characters drank too much? What are some of the real-life consequences of drinking?
How did the movie portray sex and relationships? Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 29, 2022
- On DVD or streaming : September 9, 2022
- Cast : Arjun Kapoor , John Abraham , Disha Patani
- Director : Mohit Suri
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Director(s) , Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : PVR Pictures
- Genre : Thriller
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 129 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate