"Dhadak 2," the 2025 Hindi-language romantic drama starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, had an interesting journey to its theatrical release and subsequent streaming debut. Directed by Shazia Iqbal and produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures, the film is a spiritual sequel to "Dhadak" (2018) and a remake of the Tamil film "Pariyerum Perumal" (2018). Released in theaters on August 1, 2025, "Dhadak 2" faced mixed reactions at the box office but garnered positive reviews for its nuanced depiction of social issues.
Recently, a surprising revelation came to light: the film was initially titled "Panther". Director Shazia Iqbal disclosed this tentative title in a conversation with film critic Sucharita Tyagi, explaining that "Panther" was considered at a very early stage of production. The title was inspired by the Dalit Panther Movement, as the group run by Shekhar (Priyank Tiwari) in the film was called Dalit Panther. According to Iqbal, Neelesh's (Siddhant Chaturvedi) journey in the film was about "becoming a panther".
Interestingly, even Siddhant Chaturvedi himself was unaware of this original title. Upon hearing the revelation, he exclaimed, "Wow, I love this. I did not know this". Chaturvedi also expressed that he had reservations about the title "Dhadak 2," feeling that it didn't quite capture the film's unique identity. He felt the film was about identity, and being both a remake and a sequel created a sense of lost identity. He admitted that the title and the concept of it being a sequel "never grew on" him.
"Dhadak 2" delves into the complexities of caste-based discrimination through the love story of Neelesh Ahirwar (Siddhant Chaturvedi), a law student from a historically marginalized community, and Vidhi Bharadwaj (Triptii Dimri), a classmate from an upper-caste, socially privileged family. Despite their different backgrounds, they develop a close friendship that blossoms into love, but their bond faces resistance from society and Vidhi's family. The film explores the violence and false allegations that people from lower castes often endure.
While "Dhadak 2" received praise for its performances and tackling of social issues, it didn't achieve significant box office success, earning a net collection of ₹23.42 crore in India. Some critics noted that the film, while engaging and heart-rending, had a restrained resolution. Others felt that the romantic arc between the leads could have been more developed.
However, the film found a new audience after its release on Netflix. Many viewers who missed it in theaters praised its thought-provoking depiction of social realities. Shazia Iqbal noted that the film's reach was wider on Netflix, with many viewers finally having access to it. Some netizens lauded the film as an "exceptionally powerful" portrayal of societal issues. Despite the initial mixed reactions and box office performance, "Dhadak 2" has sparked conversations and gained recognition for its sensitive portrayal of casteism and its impact on love and relationships.
