Ritesh Deshmukh (born December 17, 1978) is an Indian actor, from Latur City in Marathwada, Maharashtra. He is son of Vilasrao Deshmukh Cabinet Minister for Heavey Industries and Public Interprises,Government Of India.

Ritesh Deshmukh was born on December 17, 1978. He completed his education from G. D. Somani High School and Kamala Raheja School of Architecture in Mumbai. He worked in New York City after graduation while studying acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

He made his debut in 2003 with Tujhe Meri Kasam in which he co-starred Genelia D'souza which was average at the box office. He then did the lead role in Out of Control. He became a known face after the 2004 comedy Masti, again co-starring Genelia, which established him as an actor. Later, he appeared in Bardaasht. After the release of Masti, he changed his known name Ritiesh Deshmukh for numerological reasons.

He has mainly taken on comic roles and a few serious roles. He has appeared in several comedy films including Kyaa Kool Hai Hum, Malamaal Weekly and Apna Sapna Money Money. He appeared in a supporting role in Bluffmaster! with Abhishek Bachchan in the lead. He acted in one of the stories in Darna Zaroori Hai alongside Amitabh Bachchan.

In 2007, he was first seen in a guest appearance in Namastey London and then the multi-starrer action film Cash which was a box office failure. Later that year, he appeared in Sajid Khan's directorial debut Heyy Babyy, co-starring Akshay Kumar and Fardeen Khan, which was a worldwide hit and his most commercially successful film to date. And he was last seen in 2007 as himself in Deewangi Deewangi, a track from Om Shanti Om featuring 30 other notable actors from Bollywood.

In 2008, Ritesh's first release was De Taali, in which Ritesh's performance was praised, and later release was Chamku, both the films failed at the box office.

First of his upcoming films is Aladin, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Jacqueline Fernandez and Juhi Chawla, which is set to be released on October 16, 2009. Others are Ram Gopal Varma's Rann, again co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Paresh Rawal and Rajpal Yadav and Do Knot Disturb along with Govinda, Sushmita Sen and Lara Dutta.He is currently working on Sajid Khan's Housefull along with co-stars Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Jiah Khan and Lara Dutta.

Ritesh has hosted the 2008 IIFA Awards, with Boman Irani and Urmila Matondkar, which took place in Bangkok. He again hosted IIFA Awards in 2009 at The Venetian Macao in Macau, with Boman Irani and Lara Dutta.