Dhadak 2 Review – Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi Shine in a Gritty Sequel

Dhadak 2 review, starring Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi, hit theatres on August 1, 2025, and it’s already making waves for all the right—and some wrong—reasons. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, this sequel to the 2018 romantic drama Dhadak isn’t just here to tug at your heartstrings. It’s here to poke, prod, and peel away the polite silence surrounding caste-based discrimination in urban India.

But does it manage to balance love, social commentary, and cinematic magic? Well, this Dhadak 2 review will unpack exactly that.

A Love Story with Thorns

At its heart, Dhadak 2 is about Neelesh (Siddhant Chaturvedi), an aspiring lawyer from a marginalised caste, and Vidhi (Triptii Dimri), a law student from a privileged family.

Neelesh earns a place at a prestigious law college, but instead of celebration, his admission becomes a silent trigger for overt casteist abuse and subtle dehumanisation. In this world of invisible walls and polite hostility, he falls for Vidhi.

Their romance blooms, but it’s anything but smooth sailing. Their relationship is soon caught in a tangle of institutional prejudice, social hostility, and generational bigotry—the kind of stuff Bollywood usually likes to airbrush.

The Big Shift from Dhadak (2018)

Let’s get this straight—Dhadak 2 is not your sugary Bollywood romance with a sprinkling of social conflict. It’s grittier, less forgiving, and uncomfortably close to real life.

While Dhadak (2018) softened the caste angle from its Marathi inspiration Sairat, this sequel goes the other way. It leans hard into the caste divide and refuses to let you look away. This Dhadak 2 review must highlight that bold creative choice—it’s what sets the sequel apart.

A Remake with a Purpose

Shazia Iqbal’s Dhadak 2 is essentially a Bollywood reimagining of Mari Selvaraj’s Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. The original was poetic, raw, and uncompromising—a love story set against the brutality of caste oppression.

The challenge here? Retaining that honesty while delivering a film palatable for the mainstream Hindi audience. In that sense, Shazia takes a brave step forward, but not without a few stumbles along the way.

The Setting: From Rural Rawness to Urban Realities

Dhadak 2 review, The Tamil original thrived in its rural setting, where caste is an unmissable, ever-present reality. In Dhadak 2, the story moves to a more curated urban environment. The discrimination is quieter, often hidden behind a “moral mask”, but no less damaging.

The trouble is, in translation, some of the emotional poetry is lost. What was once dream-like tragedy in Pariyerum Perumal becomes more of a straightforward narrative here. It’s powerful, yes, but sometimes feels like a lecture rather than lived experience.

Triptii Dimri: Quiet Fire, Bubbly Sparks

Let’s talk about Triptii Dimri. As Vidhi, she is equal parts charming and frustrating.

Vidhi is intelligent, outspoken, and headstrong—but also blind to the systemic privilege she benefits from. Her journey is supposed to be one of awakening, yet it takes the entire film for her to even acknowledge why her cousin opposes her relationship with Neelesh.

Triptii delivers moments of quiet rage and wounded resilience, but sometimes overplays her “bubbly” traits, softening the emotional weight of her arc.

Siddhant Chaturvedi: The Silent Storm

Siddhant Chaturvedi, on the other hand, owns Neelesh. He plays him as a man torn between ambition and identity, someone who knows that centuries of oppression have made love a dangerous luxury.

There’s a heartbreaking moment early in the film where Vidhi throws herself into Neelesh’s arms, but he hesitates to hold her—not out of indifference, but because untouchability is so deeply ingrained that it freezes his hands.

Siddhant’s performance is restrained yet deeply moving, making him the emotional anchor of this Dhadak 2 review.

The Supporting Cast: Strength in Small Doses

The film also features Vipin Sharma, Manjiri Pupala, Deeksha Joshi, Priyank Tiwari, Amit Jaat, Mayank Khanna, and Ashwant Lodhi in important roles.

Standouts include Harish Khanna as Vidhi’s lawyer father—a man who understands the caste system’s cruelty but feels powerless to dismantle it—and Saurabh Sachdeva as the chilling vigilante who polices caste “purity” with quiet menace.

Audience Reactions: Applause and Eye Rolls

Dhadak 2 review, The first wave of X (Twitter) reviews paints a mixed but passionate picture:

• “Brave storytelling & honest performances! Everything lands—the emotions, the anger, the messaging!”
• “Some stories touch your heart, others hit your mind—Dhadak 2 does both.”
• “Bold, emotional love story on caste divide. Climax hits hard. Worth a watch!”
• “Powerful message, but messy execution. Too many subplots, not enough heart.”
• “Strong second half, but lacks a soul-stirring soundtrack like the first Dhadak.”

It’s clear: audiences are split between those praising its courage and those wishing for a more tightly woven narrative.

Music: The Missing Magic

Let’s be honest—music played a huge role in making the first Dhadak memorable. Songs like “Zingaat” and “Pehli Baar” carried both romance and nostalgia.

In Dhadak 2, the soundtrack is serviceable but far from iconic. It supports the story without stealing the spotlight, which some may see as a loss and others as a necessary choice for a more serious narrative.

Strengths: Where Dhadak 2 Delivers

• Bravery in Theme: It confronts caste realities head-on, especially in an urban setting.
• Strong Performances: Siddhant Chaturvedi is a revelation; Triptii Dimri delivers layered emotions.
• Realistic Climax: The ending refuses to offer fairy-tale resolutions, staying true to the film’s message.

Weaknesses: Where It Stumbles

• Uneven Execution: Too many subplots dilute the main romance.
• Loss of Poetic Touch: The shift from rural rawness to urban polish sacrifices emotional depth.
• Average Soundtrack: Misses the emotional lift music could have provided.

Bold, but Not Unbreakable

Dhadak 2 is not a perfect film—but it’s an important one. It’s a bold step for Bollywood to tackle caste with such directness, especially in a love story format.

If you’re looking for a feel-good romance, this isn’t it. But if you’re ready for a love story that gets under your skin, challenges your assumptions, and makes you think long after the credits roll—then this Dhadak 2 review concludes that it deserves your time.

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Conclusion

Dhadak 2 is a social mirror, cracked but still reflecting truths many would rather ignore. It may lack the seamless beauty of its inspirations, but it compensates with courage.

Like its protagonist Neelesh, the film isn’t here to charm you—it’s here to make you see. And in a cinematic landscape that too often sidesteps uncomfortable realities, that’s a win worth celebrating.