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Dhadak 2
Dhadak 2 (which means 'Heartbeat 2') is a 2025 Indian Hindi-language romantic drama film written and directed by Shazia Iqbal. The film is produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures.
| Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Shazia Iqbal |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Karan Johar, Umesh Kumar Bansal, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Meenu Aroraa, Somen Mishra, Pragati Deshmukh |
| Screenplay by | Shazia Iqbal |
| Dialogues by | Shazia Iqbal |
| Story by | Rahul Badwelkar |
| Starring | Triptii Dimri, Siddhant Chaturvedi |
| Music by | Tanuj Tiku (Score), Rochak Kohli, Tanishk Bagchi, Javed-Mohsin, Shreyas Puranik (Songs) |
| Cinematography | Sylvester Fonseca |
| Edited by | Charu Shree Roy, Omkar Uttam Sakpal, Sangeeth Varghese |
| Production company | Zee Studios, Dharma Productions, Cloud 9 Pictures |
| Distributed by | Zee Studios |
| Release date | August 1, 2025 |
| Running time | 146 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | |
| Box office | ₹3.65 crore (opening day, India) |
It is a spiritual sequel to the 2018 film Dhadak, but not a direct continuation of its story. Instead, it is a remake of the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal (2018), which explored issues like caste discrimination and social injustice.
The lead roles in Dhadak 2 are played by Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi. The movie tells a powerful love story set against the backdrop of deep-rooted social divisions in India.
Dhadak 2 was released theatrically on 1 August 2025.
Plot
The movie tells the emotional and powerful story of Nilesh (played by Siddhant Chaturvedi), a passionate and hardworking law student who belongs to a marginalized community. Despite facing social and economic challenges, he is determined to rise above the odds and build a better future for himself.
While studying at law school, he meets Vidhi (played by Triptii Dimri), a confident and outspoken girl from an upper-caste and privileged family. As they spend time together, a quiet and sincere bond begins to form between them. Over time, Nilesh falls deeply in love with Vidhi, and she too begins to feel a strong connection with him.
But their growing closeness doesn't sit well with Vidhi’s family. When they discover the friendship, their reaction is harsh and cruel. In the name of protecting their so-called "honor", they begin to insult, threaten, and humiliate Nilesh, simply because of his caste and background.
Dhadak 2 highlights the deep-rooted caste discrimination that still exists in modern India. Through the lens of a heartfelt love story, the film questions social injustice and the harsh realities many still face today. It’s a moving tale of love, dignity, and the fight for equality—where emotions run deep and the truth hits hard.
Cast
Triptii Dimri as Vidhi Siddhant Chaturvedi as Neelesh Zakir Hussain as Principal Haider Ansari Saurabh Sachdeva as Shankar Deeksha Joshi as Nimisha Vipin Sharma as Neelesh's father Saad Bilgrami as Ronnie Harish Khanna as Arvind, Vidhi's father Aditya Thakare as Vasu Abhay Joshi as Prakash, Vidhi's uncle Anubha Fatehpura as Neelesh's mother Manjari Pupala as Richa
Production
Dhadak 2 started its pre-production work in April 2023. The film features Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi in lead roles and is being produced by Karan Johar. The official announcement of the movie was made on 15 May 2025 through a musical teaser that introduced the main characters. The shooting of the film began in November 2024. Most of the scenes were filmed in Bhopal and Sehore, two cities in Madhya Pradesh. The college scenes were shot at Somaiya Vidyavihar University in Mumbai, giving a realistic academic backdrop to the story.
Soundtrack
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Bas Ek Dhadak" | Rashmi Virag | Javed–Mohsin | Shreya Ghoshal, Jubin Nautiyal | 4:19 |
| 2 | "Preet Re" | Gurpreet Saini | Rochak Kohli | Darshan Raval, Jonita Gandhi | 3:16 |
| 3 | "Duniya Alag" | Siddharth–Garima | Shreyas Puranik | Arijit Singh | 3:58 |
| 4 | "Tu Meri Dhadak Hai" | Rashmi Virag | Javed–Mohsin | Vishal Mishra | 5:01 |
| 5 | "Bawariya" | Ozil Dalal | Tanishk Bagchi | Jubin Nautiyal, Suvarna Tiwari | |
| 6 | "Yeh Kaisa Ishq Re" | Gurpreet Saini | Rochak Kohli | — |
Release
he film was originally set to release in theatres on 22 November 2024, but it faced multiple delays. First, the date was shifted to 21 February 2025, and then again to 1 August 2025. These postponements happened due to various reasons, including issues with CBFC clearance. Eventually, the film was released in cinemas on 1 August 2025.
Reception
Critical response
Dhadak 2' received mixed reviews from critics, with many comparing it unfavorably to the original. Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave it 2.5 stars out of 5 and said that while the film tackles important issues like casteism, classism, feminism, and gender identity, it still feels uneven. Rahul Desai from The Hollywood Reporter India called it a "brave and intuitive" addition to anti-caste storytelling. Divya Nair of Rediff.com gave it 4 out of 5 stars, praising it for giving voice to unheard stories.
Writing for The Hindu, Anuj Kumar said the film is a "mixed bag", noting that director Shazia Iqbal struggles to balance the soul of the original with the polished look of a Dharma production. Nandini Ramnath from Scroll.in felt the film tried too hard to stick to the original, adding that it piled on too much misery, especially in the emotional climax. Sana Farzeen of India Today rated it 3/5, saying the film has its heart in the right place but doesn’t fully live up to its potential.
Rishabh Suri from Hindustan Times gave 2.5 stars, calling it a powerful story held back by poor storytelling and a stretched runtime. Radhika Sharma of NDTV gave it 3 stars, praising the bold message but criticizing the "too perfect" ending. Vinamra Mathur of Firstpost also rated it 3 stars, noting the film tries to tackle too much at once, mixing horror with humor.
Devesh Sharma from Filmfare gave it 4 stars, calling it an "uncomfortable but necessary watch" that forces audiences to confront caste discrimination. Writing for The Mint, Uday Bhatia said the film stands out because it uses dark humor and realism, unlike most Hindi films that avoid caste issues.
Subhash K Jha of News 24 gave it a glowing 4.5 stars, calling it not just a remake, but a stronger, more emotional recreation of the original. Shachi Chaturvedi from News 18 gave it 3.5 stars, describing it as a powerful romantic thriller about caste in modern India. Finally, a critic from Bollywood Hungama also gave it 3.5 stars, appreciating its subject, performances, emotional scenes, and strong climax.
Box office
Dhadak 2 collected ₹3.65 crore (US$430,000) nett on its opening day at the Indian box office.