He went on to write and direct several hit films in the action and thriller genres: Tridev (1989), Vishwatma (1992), Mohra (1994), and Gupt (1997).

After a four-year hiatus from the Bollywood industry, he returned to directing by introducing Arjun Rampal with his comeback venture Pyaar Ishq Aur Mohabbat (2001).

[1] This was an attempt by Rai at directing a romantic drama, a change from his previous action films.

Following a sabbatical of two decades, Rai announced his return to direction in 2022 with a production titled Zora.

[4] In 1997, he had to leave India with his family for the UK after a failed attempt to kill him by hitmen believed to be working for the Mumbai underworld leader Abu Salem.