'Dhadak 2' Review: Siddhant & Triptii bring fire & fragility in Dharma's bold, bruised romance

Dhadak 2 : In Theatres

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Cast: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri and more

Directed By: Shazia Iqbal

Produced By: Dharma Productions

If the last few months at the box office have taught us anything, it's this: Bollywood is once again falling in love with love. From breezy rom-coms to nostalgic coming-of-age romances, theatres are suddenly blooming with hearts, heartbreaks, and that good old sap of young passion. And just when you thought we were stuck in a loop of slow-mo macho heroes and over-the-top action, Dharma Productions flips the script with something far more grounded, potent, and daring.

Enter Dhadak 2, no, not just another glossy follow-up to the candy-coated first instalment. This time, it's personal. It's political. And most of all, it's powerful. Directed by Shazia Iqbal and co-written with Rahul Badwelkar, Dhadak 2 isn't here to play safe. It's here to scream, softly, loudly and unapologetically.

Plot and Progression

Set in and around the halls of a prestigious National Law University, Dhadak 2 follows Neelesh Arhiwar (Siddhant Chaturvedi), a bright and determined young man who belongs to a lower caste. Thanks to reservation quotas, he earns a spot at the elite institute, a world he is technically part of, yet constantly reminded that he doesn't belong.

There he meets Vidhi Bharadwaj (Triptii Dimri), upper caste, poised, and the kind of girl who doesn't realise how deeply her world is wrapped in privilege. Their meet-cute happens at a wedding, no less. She sees him play the drums. Their eyes lock. Sparks fly. And soon enough, she invites him to perform at her sister's big day. Innocent? Sure. But in a world that still judges love by last names, it turns catastrophic.

What unfolds is a harrowing yet beautifully restrained exploration of love in a society still entangled in the chains of casteism. It's about two hearts trying to beat in rhythm, even when the world insists on turning down the volume.

Execution & Direction: Bold, Balanced, and Brutally Honest

Director Shazia Iqbal doesn't sugarcoat the subject matter. While the first half takes its time to bloom, setting up the chemistry, the classes, the subtle differences, it's in the second half that the film truly rises to its potential. Every frame begins to carry weight. Every silence speaks louder than words. There are no exaggerated monologues or needless background violins. Instead, there's conviction.

What's refreshing is how the film manages to balance the romance with the realism. It doesn't swing too far into either territory. The love story is genuine but not overcooked, and the caste commentary is sharp but never preachy. There's an underlying tension throughout, and yet, the narrative never forgets to let its characters breathe, to smile, to flirt, to live. A few light-hearted college scenes and wedding moments add just enough relief to keep the film emotionally engaging without becoming overwhelming. Though an adaptation of the acclaimed Pariyerum Perumal, Dhadak 2 carves its own voice, emotion, and cinematic identity.

High Points & Heartbreaks

The intermission twist, we won't spoil it is a gut-punch. It jolts you awake and realigns the tone entirely. From that moment on, Dhadak 2 is not your typical romance anymore. It becomes something darker, denser. A tragic hymn of social reality, where just being in love is a rebellion.

Another highlight is how cleverly the surnames, Arhiwar and Bharadwaj are used as silent battle flags. The politics is in the dedetailsand the screenplay never underestimates its audience.

Of course, there are a few stumbles. The love arc between Neelesh and Vidhi feels a tad rushed. You wish for a few more scenes to justify the emotional stakes. A side character, Shekhar, is introduced but never really explored. Some of the early pacing could've been tighter. And yes, let's address the slightly darkened skin tone used on Siddhant, it could've been avoided, but the nuance and power he brings to the role almost makes you look past that decision.

Siddhant Chaturvedi Moulds & How

If you had any doubts about Siddhant Chaturvedi's acting prowess, put them to rest. As Neelesh, he is a volcano waiting to erupt, yet so much of his rage remains internalised. He's someone constantly holding himself back, by fear, by experience, by identity. It's an emotionally layered performance, filled with small gestures, held-back tears, clenched fists. He plays Neelesh not as a victim, but as someone fighting for dignity.

Triptii Dimri, with her natural elegance, brings a quiet dignity to Vidhi. She starts off playful and soft, but as the story progresses, you see her confront the brutal realities of the world she thought she understood. Her emotional moments in the climactic scenes are enough to leave a lump in your throat.

The supporting cast is robust too. Saurabh Sachdeva plays Shankar, the film's symbolic villain, a man convinced he's upholding the "purity" of caste by hunting down love across caste lines. He's frightening in the calmest way, never raising his voice, and that makes him even more dangerous. Zakir Hussain as the university principal, and Vipin Sharma as Neelesh's conflicted father, add gravitas. Even brief characters like Ronnie (Saad Bilgrami) and Vidhi's uncle (Abhay Joshi) leave an impression.

Music & Cinematics

The music in Dhadak 2 doesn't scream chartbuster, and that's a good thing. Tracks like "Bas Ek Dhadak" and "Yeh Kaisa Ishq" are tender and immersive, songs that melt into the story rather than distract from it.

Sylvester Fonseca's cinematography is stark, gritty and yet, emotionally warm in parts. The contrast of dusty streets with grand wedding halls visually underlines the class difference. Action sequences, especially one particularly jarring attack on Neelesh, are impactful without resorting to gore. Editing by Omkar Uttam Sakpal and Charu Shree Roy could've trimmed the fat in the first half and a couple of scenes in the second, but overall, the film moves with purpose.

What keeps you truly hooked isn't just the plot or the performances, it's the emotional pulse of the film. It grabs you slowly and never lets go. By the time you reach the final 20 minutes, you're no longer watching Neelesh and Vidhi's story; you're feeling it. You're in their silence, in their fear, in their stubborn hope.

Dhadak 2 is soaked in that rare kind of sincerity where every choice, be it a stare, a hesitation, a wedding song, adds to the storytelling. Even its title finally makes sense, this isn't about the heartbeat of romance, but of rebellion, of resistance, of survival.

In a time when Bollywood is often accused of playing it safe, Dhadak 2 dares to go where few mainstream films do. It doesn't just aim to entertain, it aims to expose, to engage, and to make you think long after the credits roll.

Dhadak 2 had its fair share of hurdles before reaching the big screen. With multiple cuts, revisions, and tense back-and-forths with the CBFC, the film’s journey was anything but smooth. One can’t help but wonder how raw, bold, and unfiltered the original vision might have been, perhaps even more piercing without the imposed restraints.

Yes, it's not perfect. Yes, it could have added more polish to certain arcs. But what it lacks in finesse, it more than makes up for in heart. In intent. In courage.

If you're in for a love story that doesn't play by the rules, if you're ready for a film that aches and stings yet gives you hope, go watch Dhadak 2. It's the heartbeat we didn't know Hindi cinema still had.