What if love didn’t just cross class, but also caste, shame, and social annihilation? In “Dhadak 2,” director Shazia Iqbal doesn’t merely update a formula—she detonates it. Inspired by Mari Selvaraj’s Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal, this isn’t a sequel in spirit but a thematic successor to the 2018 glossy debut vehicle of Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter.
A Tale Too Real for Comfort
Set in a government college backdrop, the film follows Neelesh (Siddhant Chaturvedi), a bright Dalit scholarship student, and Vidhi (Triptii Dimri), the privileged daughter of an upper-caste leader. What begins as cautious attraction becomes an unraveling of entrenched inequality. While “Dhadak” romanticized rebellion, “Dhadak 2” exposes the silent, systemic machinery of oppression.
Performances That Refuse to Flinch
Siddhant Chaturvedi brings fire and fragility to Neelesh, portraying the microaggressions and overt humiliations with restraint and rage. Triptii Dimri shines as a young woman torn between family loyalty and moral awakening. Their chemistry isn’t melodramatic—it’s raw, confused, human.
Supporting characters, especially Vidhi’s casteist father and Neelesh’s fellow hostel mates, are layered. Even silent scenes carry the weight of centuries.
Shazia Iqbal’s Brave Lens
This is Shazia Iqbal’s directorial debut, but it already feels like a film that will be studied. Her frames are not aestheticized—they’re confrontational. She resists Karan Johar-style song-and-dance distractions, using sound instead to amplify silences, discomfort, and tension in Dhadak 2 .
Not Without Flaws
Yes, the pacing wobbles in the second act. The romantic core lacks conventional intensity. And yes, the film makes you uncomfortable. But that is exactly the point.
Final Word: Must-Watch, But Not Easy Viewing
“Dhadak 2” doesn’t ask for your tears. It asks for your attention. It may lack the escapism of its predecessor, but it offers something more valuable: honesty. In an era of sanitized storytelling, this film dares to speak without filters.
Rating: 4/5
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Author: Team BTP
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