Review: Dhadak 2: Middling But Sincere

 

Movie: Dhadak 2
Rating: 3/5

Cast: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri, Zakir Hussain, Saurabh Sachdeva, and others

Director: Shazia Iqbal

Produced By: Dharma Productions

Release Date: 01-08-2025

Story:

Neelesh (Siddhant Chaturvedi) and Viddhi (Triptii Dimri) are law students. She is from a higher caste, while he is from a lower caste. She feels attracted to him and makes the first move, but he hesitates to show his love fully, as he knows the potential consequences, and one such incident arrives when he goes to the marriage of Vidhi's sister. The rest of the story is how Neelesh comes out of the fear/trauma and fights for his rights.

Performances:

Siddhant Chaturvedi gives a strong performance as a young man ensnared in systemic injustice while still seeking an escape. His character particularly bears the emotional burden in the second half. Triptii Dimri also takes on a challenging role of a woman who is torn between her family's strict beliefs and her affection for Neelesh, delivering a believable performance.

Zakir Hussain shines as the college principal, and Saurabh Sachdeva also makes an impression as a man who murders young individuals for caste pride.

What worked for the film:

After meandering in the middle after an intriguing start, it is in the second half that Dhadak 2 truly discovers its voice. It moves away from the romance and highlights the main issue, which is caste discrimination, with several hard-hitting moments. Neelesh retaliates, and the tension escalates. The impact becomes intense. Additionally, there is a mention of women’s rights in a scene, which is good.

Even with the preachy tone, the climax delivers well, and the final scene suggests a brighter future.

What did not work for the film:

The first half of the film gets a bit sidetracked as the romance between Neelesh and Vidhi appears rushed. There is a character of a senior student who fights for the fellowship; his character and journey fail to evoke the intended effect, even with a disturbing moment in the latter half. The songs do not register and feel out of sync.

Dhadak 2 Review and Verdict:

Shazia Iqbal's Dhadak 2 is a sincere remake that aims to address multiple social issues, including casteism, patriarchy, privilege, and class. While the film succeeds in many areas, it stumbles occasionally. Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri deliver convincing performances.