Dhadak 2 Announced: A Bold Tale of Love and Resistance

Bollywood producer Apoorva Mehta has officially announced Dhadak 2, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, with a striking caption: "If you have to choose between dying and fighting… then fight." The film is set to release on August 1, 2025, and is backed by major production houses — Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, Dhadak 2 aims to go beyond a romantic narrative and delve into powerful social commentary, as hinted by its tagline: “ek tha raja, ek thi rani, jaat alag thi” — a king, a queen, different castes.

While it bears the title of a sequel, Dhadak 2 is a spiritual successor rather than a direct continuation of the 2018 film Dhadak. Unlike its predecessor, which was a remake of Sairat, this new installment draws thematic inspiration from the critically acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. That film followed the journey of a Dalit law student navigating caste discrimination, offering a raw, unfiltered look at social inequality. With Dhadak 2, the makers seem to be steering the franchise toward deeper engagement with India’s entrenched caste dynamics.

This shift is particularly timely. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India recorded over 50,900 crimes against Scheduled Castes in 2021 alone. Caste-based discrimination remains a persistent issue, often influencing major life decisions such as marriage, education, and employment. A 2023 study in the Economic and Political Weekly revealed that nearly 60% of urban Indians still consider caste when arranging marriages — a stark reminder of how deeply rooted these divides remain, even in modern India.

By embedding a love story within this sociopolitical context, Dhadak 2 not only hopes to resonate with young audiences but also spark important conversations. If successful, it could mark a pivotal moment in mainstream Hindi cinema’s portrayal of caste — shifting from romanticized narratives to more truthful, confrontational storytelling. As the film industry increasingly reflects on its social responsibility, Dhadak 2 may prove to be more than just a sequel — it could be a statement.