After significant buzz and 16 anti-caste cuts from the CBFC, Dhadak 2, the spiritual sequel to Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter’s 2018 film, Dhadak, is here. The film, which premiered on August 1, 2025, attempts to set the tone of a gritty love story marred by caste-based discrimination in contemporary India. Under Dharma Productions’ banner, this film stands out for its rustic and cultural setup, unlike the typical glamour. After the success of Dhadak, this sequel, a remake of the Tamil-language drama Pariyerum Perumal, aims high, but it lands somewhere between a strong statement and a mixed potential.

The plot and setting of Dhadak 2

Dhadak 2, starring Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi in lead roles, can be said to take a more bold stance on caste-based discrimination and social stratification. Set in a fictionalised version of Bhopal, the story follows ‘Neelesh Ahirwar’ (Siddhant Chaturvedi), a scheduled caste law student from Shivaji Nagar, and ‘Vidhi Bhardwaj’ (Triptii Dimri), his privileged upper-caste classmate. The inner monologue of caste biases and identity struggle amid student politics is mainly based in a law college. 

A soft-spoken ‘Neelesh’ (Siddhant) is painfully aware of his social standing, and his college mates make sure that he remembers it. For his scheduled caste, ‘Neelesh’ is often humiliated, shoved, and even quite literally pissed on. Meanwhile, his classmate, ‘Vidhi’ (Triptii), has been raised by a liberal father. She becomes a curious bystander who gradually finds herself falling in love with Neelesh, and thus begins a love story tainted by caste politics, injustice, and painful truths. 

Directed by Shazia Iqbal, Dhadak 2 sets the stage for an important message, especially in light of real-life cases like the recent Chennai honour killing. However, while the intent was there, the execution was not up to the mark. 

Dhadak 2: What worked and what didn’t

The performances are what really stood out in this much-anticipated sequel. Siddhant Chaturvedi’s performance as ‘Neelesh’ has to be one of his most layered performances yet. The way he captures the helplessness of being invisible in plain sight and gradually embraces a defiant persona is praiseworthy. His vulnerability, especially in those vulnerable moments and the scenes with his mother and campus mentor, ‘Shekhar,’ is heartbreaking.

Siddhant’s female counterpart, Triptii Dimri, has shone in a fresh portrayal of ‘Vidhi,’ a liberal woman who not only fights with society but also confronts her own conditioning. The scenes where ‘Vidhi’ confronts her family will make you cackle with anger. However, despite strong performances at their respective ends, Siddhant and Triptii’s romantic chemistry falls flat and lacks the gripping emotional quality that one expects from a love story-based narrative. 

Director Shazia Iqbal deserves credit for steering beyond the mainstream Bollywood narrative and directly addressing the issue of casteism in all its brutality and the oppressed silences of the inferiors. Moreover, the film has some hard-hitting dialogues, but there’s little room to process them as the story progresses. At one point, the film might feel tagged due to over-explained narratives. This makes Dhadak 2 more of an explainer than a lived-in experience for the viewers.

Saurabh Sachdeva as ‘Shankar’ delivers an eerie performance with his vigilante stature and cold-blooded ‘social cleansing.’ However, after two and a half hours of relentless trauma, the ending feels powerful but hollow. The Dharma gloss mutes much of the grit of Pariyerum Perumal, which makes it an underwhelming remake for those who have watched the original film.

Final verdict

Amid mainstream Bollywood, Dhadak 2 surely stands out for its brave attempt to address a subject that’s long been ignored in the industry. However, the rawness that one would expect from such a gritty setting somehow becomes glossed over by overexplained messaging with little room for self-reflection. The film can be a solid one-time watch for Shazia Iqbal’s bold vision and Siddhant Chaturvedi’s raw vulnerability. However, it’s not a punch in the gut as one would expect.

Have you watched Dhadak 2 yet?

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