[1] It received overall positive reviews from the critics, who appreciated the performances of Khan and Siddiqui, production design, cinematography and visual effects, and was a moderate success at the box office,[14] becoming the 6th highest-grossing Hindi film of 2017.

Raees, a sharp-minded boy, lives in Fatehpur, Gujarat, a dry state, and gets involved in the illegal liquor trade at a young age.

Along with his best friend, Sadiq, he starts working for a local gangster, Jairaj — who prefers Raees as he comes up with novel ideas for smuggling.

As his power and influence grow, he decides to part ways with Jairaj and takes the help of a crime boss, Musabhai, to start his own business.

He gains immense popularity in his community: he provides them liquor, employs them for receiving and delivering orders, and thus enjoys political support from both the Chief Minister and Pashabhai, the leader of the opposition.

This affects most of the dealers except him as he manages to smuggle past Majmudar, leading to hostile relations and a failed assassination attempt by Jairaj.

At the baby shower, he convinces the CM to transfer Majmudar to the Police Control Room and takes on a new real estate project offered to him.

Raees publicly assaults Pashabhai over a disagreement, and the CM sends him to jail temporarily as a PR stunt.

Seeing him as an imminent threat, the CM recalls Majmudar back to Fatehpur and declares his real-estate project's plot as protected land, rendering the construction illegal.

To worsen the situation, communal rioting in the state leads to the imposition of a curfew, jeopardizing his liquor business.

Completely broke, a desperate Raees reaches out to Musabhai for help, who offers him money for smuggling in gold by sea.

[21][22][23] There was a clearance issue by the Archaeological Survey of India for a shooting at Ahmedabad at the medieval mosque and tomb complex, Sarkhej Roza.

[24][25] The film was scheduled to be released on Eid, 6 July 2016,[26] but was postponed to avoid box office competition with Salman Khan starrer Sultan.

[29] In March 2016, a legal notice was sent by an alleged gangster, Abdul Latif's son, Mustak, asking why a film on his father's life was being made.

[37][38] The Chief Minister of Maharashtra and member of the BJP and the RSS, Devendra Fadnavis said at the meeting with MNS and the producers ₹5 crore as contribution to the Indian Army welfare fund was not quoted compulsory and was never a condition for lifting ban on films featuring Pakistani actors demanded by MNS, and earlier at an event praised Shah Rukh Khan as an "icon" and a "proud Mumbaikar".

[45] Raees was the most pirated Hindi film of 2017, with 62 lakh online file sharers worldwide, primarily in India and Pakistan.

[55] Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama rated the film 4 out of 5 stars and said director Dholakia "depicts the power play and the cat and mouse chase between Raees and the honest cop Jaideep with flourish and that, in my opinion, is the mainstay of the enterprise.

"[56] Nihit Bhave of The Times of India rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "The movie can feel a bit long, but if you're going for a great SRK performance and some good ol' popcorn-entertainment, it might just 'raees' to the occasion.

From his introduction scene, lacerating his back during a Moharram gathering, to a Scarface-like shootout, all guns blazing, to his many moments simmering with rage, Shah Rukh commands your attention.

"[59] Writing for The Hindu, Namrata Joshi gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and wrote, "In Raees, he (SRK) and Dholakia would rather dare than play it safe.

"[60] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV rated the film 3 out of 5 stars and commented, "Raees might be markedly unfamiliar territory, but [Dholakia] doesn't let that fact undermine the content and its context.

"[61] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "SRK breaks through in some moments but is stymied by florid, seen-too-many-times flourishes in Raees.

"[65] Writing for Hindustan Times, Sarit Ray gave the film 2 out of 5 stars, saying "Raees also deserves credit for going with a principal set of Muslim protagonists, a rarity for present-day Bollywood.

"[68] Rachel Saltz of The New York Times stated that "Avoiding flabby subplots, Mr. Dholakia keeps "Raees" taut and suspenseful, even at two and a half hours, though it probably has a song too many.