"Dhadak 2", starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, has seen a drop in box office collections on its third day, minting approximately ₹11.50 crore over its opening weekend. The film, directed by Shazia Iqbal, is a spiritual sequel to the 2018 film "Dhadak" starring Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter, and is a remake of the Tamil film "Pariyerum Perumal".

Box Office Performance

The film's opening day collection was ₹3.5 crore, followed by ₹3.75 crore on the second day. On its third day, "Dhadak 2" collected ₹4.25 crore. While "Dhadak 2" managed to cross the ₹11 crore mark in its opening weekend, it faced stiff competition from other releases, including Ajay Devgn's "Son of Sardaar 2" and Ahaan Panday-Aneet Padda's "Saiyaara". "Son of Sardaar 2" dominated the opening weekend, while "Saiyaara," in its third week, continued its successful run, nearing the ₹300 crore mark.

Occupancy and Key Contributors

On its third day, "Dhadak 2" had an overall Hindi occupancy of 33.15%. Theaters saw 13.78% occupancy in the morning, 38.19% in the afternoon, and 48.32% during the evening shows. Key contributors in terms of occupancy included Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, and Lucknow.

Reviews and Initial Reactions

Upon its release, "Dhadak 2" received mixed reviews. Some critics lauded the film for its nuanced storytelling, strong performances, and moving soundtrack, describing its world as layered and complex. Others found the narrative repetitive and the romantic arc underdeveloped. Some reviews appreciated the film's bravery in addressing social issues and the honesty in the performances.

One user on X wrote, "Siddhant Chaturvedi & Triptii Dimri deliver heartfelt performances in this intense love story. The first half builds emotions well, while the climax hits hard. Music & visuals stand out, but pacing feels slow at times. A decent sequel with strong performances". Another user praised the film's messaging, emotional depth, and the anger against retaliation. However, some felt that the film lacked a signature musical track.

Shubhra Gupta from The Indian Express gave the film 2.5 stars, noting that the passion between Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi felt performative and that the film was clearly on the right side of many hot-button issues.

Themes and Direction

"Dhadak 2" explores themes of caste politics, social injustice, and the emotional pain of forbidden love. Director Shazia Iqbal retained the elements of the original Tamil film but shifted the setting from rural to an urban milieu. According to one review, Iqbal made a brave statement on everyday caste discrimination but struggled to create a consistently stirring experience. The film aims to address multiple issues but sometimes fails to create an emotional impact, working rather mechanically.

Comparison with "Dhadak" (2018)

Several reviews compared "Dhadak 2" to its predecessor. One review noted that "Dhadak 2" is more grounded and lands emotionally with a heavier punch than the original. Unlike "Dhadak," the new movie demonstrates a fuller understanding of caste identity.

OTT Release

Following its theatrical run, "Dhadak 2" is expected to be released on Netflix India in early October 2025.