Dhadak 2 Review: Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri Light a Spark, But the Fire Never Fully Burns
Dharma’s latest love story dares to talk about caste—but doesn’t quite scream loud enough.
Dhadak 2, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, hit theatres today with a bold promise—to tackle caste discrimination head-on. But while the film dares to step into dangerous territory, it never quite unleashes the full power of its message. The result? A movie that stirs emotions, yes, but one that never truly shakes you.
Directed by Shazia Iqbal, Dhadak 2 draws inspiration from the hard-hitting Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal, but softens the blows along the way. While the story wants to say something urgent and necessary, it often pulls its punches—perhaps to avoid controversy, or maybe just to stay within the comfort zone of mainstream cinema.
You might remember Janhvi Kapoor’s haunting silent scream in the climax of Dhadak (2018)—it left a lump in the throat. In Dhadak 2, Triptii Dimri delivers a full-throated shout in the final scene, but it doesn’t hit with the same force. The message is there, the pain is real—but the execution feels a little too polished, too careful.
That said, Siddhant Chaturvedi gives his career-best performance as Neelesh, a young Dalit man struggling with deep-seated caste trauma. His pain is etched in every scene, every silence. Triptii Dimri plays Vidhi with fiery charm and intensity, reminiscent of her Laila Majnu days, and together they share a chemistry that’s raw and believable.
Supporting performances are solid across the board. Anubha Fatehpura and Vipin Sharma, as Neelesh’s conflicted parents, are heartbreakingly good. Zakir Hussain, as the morally upright college principal, brings quiet power. Saurabh Sachdeva adds menace but never becomes the true villain the story needs. Manjari Pupala, Saad Bilgrami, and others add emotional heft in their smaller roles.
Where the film falters is in its inconsistency. Some scenes hit you like a punch to the gut—Neelesh’s pet being murdered, his father’s public humiliation, a senior’s tragic suicide—but the intensity never stays. The emotional beats feel scattered, as if the film is unsure how far it wants to go. It’s like watching someone scream with their hand over their mouth.
And yet, Dhadak 2 has its moments of brilliance. There are sharp jabs—one character claims Vijay Mallya never cheated, another says Arvind Kejriwal had no plans to join politics. There’s a powerful monologue from Triptii, smashing the idea of “family honour” linked to noodles and jeans. Neelesh’s father gets one of the most impactful lines in the film, subtly flipping gender roles in a way that lingers.
Director Shazia Iqbal deserves credit for the little details too. The use of the colour blue, symbolically linked to the Jai Bhim movement, is a thoughtful touch. Portraits of Dr BR Ambedkar, Savitribai Phule, and Jyotirao Phule are respectfully placed, anchoring the film in real, painful history.
But in the end, Dhadak 2 never quite roars. It has the heart, the cast, the theme—and yet, it stops just short of greatness. Maybe it’s the fear of offending, maybe it’s the pressure of the box office. Either way, it feels like a film that wants to scream but settles for a sigh.
From Sairat to Dhadak, and now Dhadak 2, Indian cinema keeps revisiting love stories across caste lines. And while the stories may change, the societal rot remains. That’s perhaps the most heartbreaking part of all.
Dhadak 2 is a noble effort—beautifully acted, emotionally stirring—but in the end, it’s a cautious step when we needed a fearless leap.
