Riteish Deshmukh opens up about facing harsh reviews: "When critics get personal, mujhe woh khatarnak lagta hai"

Riteish Deshmukh, one of Bollywood’s most beloved actors known for his comic timing and versatility. In a recent interview, The ‘Housefull’ star, who made his debut in 2003 and has since built a diverse career in both Hindi and Marathi cinema, reflected on how some film critics crossed the line from critiquing performances to making personal digs.
Personal attacks masquerading as criticism
Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, about his initial years in the industry, Riteish recalled how he was open to criticism and always willing to learn. However, he highlighted a troubling aspect: “Mujhe criticism se problem nahi thi... kuch critics criticism chod ke personal ho jaate the.” He pointed out a few harsh remarks made by critics in the past, such as comparing his acting to a piece of furniture or calling him “as irritating as a flickering tube light.” Despite these comments, he chose to view them constructively at first. But the personal tone of some remarks eventually became a cause for concern.
Valuable advice from his father
Riteish also shared an important life lesson given to him by his late father, former Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh. “Tum apna kaam karo aur aage badho,” his father had said, reminding him to stay focused on his craft rather than negative commentary. This advice became a guiding principle for Riteish, helping him navigate the emotional toll of being in the public eye.
Rising above and moving forward
The actor confessed that while personal criticism used to bother him, he's learned to move on. “Abhi kya matlab, aap social media par ho toh kya hi aap problem loge personal hone se?” he added, acknowledging the current digital age where opinions flow freely. Riteish now chooses to extract value from feedback while ignoring negativity that offers no growth.
On the work front, Riteish will be seen next in ‘Housefull 5’, the much-anticipated fifth installment in the comedy franchise, alongside a massive star cast including Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, and more.