Honest review of Dhadak 2: A love story challenged by caste and class, powered by raw performances. Read now on puneripages.in
By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
I walked into Dhadak 2 with cautious optimism. With Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri in the lead, and a fresh directorial voice in Shazia Iqbal, I hoped Bollywood was finally ready to say something bold about caste, love, and the brutal intersections between them. And to be fair—it tries. Really hard. But somewhere between the ambition and the execution, the film loses its voice.
Table of Contents
A Story That Wants to Scream, But Only Whispers
This isn’t Dhadak 1.5—it’s more of a spiritual reboot. The glossy melodrama of the first film gives way to something moodier and rougher around the edges. There’s an urgency to the setup: an inter-caste romance that dares to be honest about the dangers it invites. You can feel the intention. But then the screenplay takes over, and it feels… hesitant.
Plot threads float in and out. Characters flip emotions like light switches. And worst of all? Just when the story starts to feel dangerous—in the best, truth-telling way—it retreats. The film keeps glancing over its shoulder, unsure if it’s allowed to go all the way.
Performances That Fight for Meaning
Siddhant Chaturvedi turns in one of his more grounded performances. There’s a fury in his eyes, especially in the film’s quieter, more vulnerable moments. But it’s Triptii Dimri who kept me invested. Her silences speak louder than most dialogues in this film. She’s constantly calculating, reacting, feeling—and you can see it all play out on her face.
But as good as they both are, they’re in a tug-of-war with a script that keeps moving the goalpost. Just when you start to get a grip on who these characters are, the story pulls them in another direction. Emotional beats feel unearned, and moments that should crush you barely land.
Direction and Style: Flashes of Something More
There are glimpses of brilliance in how the film is shot. Iqbal knows how to hold a frame—to let a scene breathe. Some moments stay with you: a lingering look, a brief touch, a moment of silent defiance. The gritty, handheld shots in tense scenes really work. But it’s the editing that hurts. Just when tension builds, the rhythm gets broken. And don’t even get me started on the song placements—they feel more like contractual obligations than storytelling tools.
Music? Functional. Nothing you’ll hum on the way home. Which, for a love story, feels like a miss.
Context Is Everything
You can’t talk about Dhadak 2 without talking about what came before it. The first Dhadak had to live in the shadow of Sairat—and crumbled under that pressure. Dhadak 2 tries to carve out its own lane, but it’s still aware of that legacy. It wants the gravitas of Article 15, the emotional wallop of Sairat, and the box-office sheen of a mainstream romance. But you can’t have all three without making sacrifices. And here, the sacrifice is clarity.
That said, credit where it’s due: a commercial Hindi film even trying to talk about caste-based violence and social injustice deserves a nod. It may not go the full distance, but the direction it’s facing? That matters.
💼 Who Should Watch This?
✅ Watch This If:
- You’re a die-hard Triptii Dimri fan (guilty!)
- You want to support Bollywood films that at least attempt to tackle big, messy issues
- You’re okay with flawed storytelling if the intent is honest
🚫 Maybe Skip This If:
- You’re expecting a hard-hitting narrative that pulls no punches
- You loved Sairat and want that level of emotional devastation
- You’re looking for a romantic musical ride—this ain’t it
⭐ Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Final Word:
Dhadak 2 is frustrating—but also, strangely hopeful. It didn’t quite hit the mark for me, but it felt like a step in the right direction. We need more stories that aim high, even if they stumble. And we need more directors like Shazia Iqbal who are willing to take those swings. Just give them sharper tools next time.
And hey, if nothing else, Triptii Dimri proves (again) that she’s the kind of actor who can light up even the dimmest script. That’s worth showing up for.
About The Author
