Dhadak 2 Movie Cast Names, Budget, Release Date, Director, Producer, Singer, Story & more

Dhadak 2 Release Date & Format

Dhadak 2, directed by debutant Shazia Iqbal, is slated for a theatrical release on 1 August 2025, officially confirmed by media reports and announcements via Dharma Productions. A U/A‑16+ certificate was secured after the filmmakers agreed to implement 16 substantial cuts demanded by the CBFC, mostly involving caste-related content and religious references.

Despite its name tying back to the 2018 hit Dhadak, this film is not a sequel in story, but rather a spiritual successor: a Hindi adaptation of the critically acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal (2018), directed by Mari Selvaraj, reimagined through a Bollywood lens.

👤 Cast & Characters

• Siddhant Chaturvedi plays Neelesh, a Dalit law student facing discrimination and fighting for justice. Known for his roles in Gully Boy, Gehraiyaan, and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Siddhant brings intensity and emotional realism to the role.
• Triptii Dimri portrays Vidhi, a fierce upper-caste woman who stands by Neelesh. Triptii, acclaimed for her work in films like Bulbbul and Qala, described Vidhi as empowering — the kind of character who urged her in real life to speak out more boldly.
• Supporting cast includes Saad Bilgrami, Vipin Sharma, Saurabh Sachdeva, Manjiri Pupala, Ashish Chaudhary, Harish Khanna, Aditya Thakare, Deeksha Joshi, and Zakir Hussain — each contributing strong character work to ground the social milieu of the narrative.

📝 Creative Team

• Director & Screenwriter: Shazia Iqbal — her directional debut, known for a bold voice centered on social realities. She co-wrote the screenplay with Rahul Badwelkar, imbuing the story with raw sensitivity and political awareness.
• Producers: A powerhouse of behind-the-scenes creatives — Karan Johar, Umesh KR Bansal, Hiroo Yash Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Meenu Aroraa, Somen Mishra, and Pragati Deshmukh. Production banners include Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures.
• Cinematography: Sylvester Fonseca, who helps evoke the emotional and political textures of the story world.
• Editing: A team including Charu Shree Roy, Omkar Uttam Sakpal, and Sangeeth Varghese crafted the film’s pacing over a runtime of roughly 146 minutes.
• Music & Lyrics: Score by Tanuj Tiku; songs composed by Rochak Kohli, Tanishk Bagchi, Javed-Mohsin, and Shreyas Puranik, with lyrics penned by Rashmi Virag, Siddharth–Garima, Gurpreet Saini, and Ozil Dalal.

📚 Story & Themes

• Narrative Basis: Adapted from the Tamil social-realist film Pariyerum Perumal (2018), Dhadak 2 centers on a love story strained under caste oppression. It tells the tale of Neelesh and Vidhi — a young couple from rigidly stratified social backgrounds — navigating life at a prestigious university in Madhya Pradesh.
• Plot Progression: A law student from a marginalised caste falls for Vidhi, his classmate. As their love deepens, systemic discrimination, familial pressure, and institutional biases test their resolve. The film confronts uncomfortable truths about casteism in modern India while examining whether love can endure radical inequality.

This is not just a love story — it’s a social reckoning, exploring survival, identity, and resistance in a culturally oppressive backdrop. Shazia Iqbal’s directorial vision makes it felt in every frame: “an emotional reckoning… rooted in reality,” she says.

🎶 Music & Soundtrack

The soundtrack is designed to underscore both tender romance and harsh reality:

• First single, “Bas Ek Dhadak”, released on 16 July 2025, marks the beginning of music promotional campaigns.
• Composers: A blend of talents including Rochak Kohli, Tanishk Bagchi, Javed-Mohsin and Shreyas Puranik ensures emotional resonance and contemporary appeal.
• Lyricists: Rashmi Virag, Siddharth–Garima, Gurpreet Saini, and Ozil Dalal infuse the songs with layered meaning — yearning, rebellion, and heartbreak interwoven with social commentary.

🛠 Production Journey & Controversy

• Announcement & Timeline: Officially announced in May 2024, production began around April 2023. Originally scheduled for release in November 2024, then delayed to March 2025, the film eventually premiered on 1 August 2025 due to CBFC-related delays.
• Certification Challenges: The Central Board of Film Certification required extensive edits — including removal of caste slurs, alterations to visuals, disclaimers, changes to religious verses, and softened violent content. It received U/A-16+ only after 16 major modifications.
• Actor Experience: Siddhant Chaturvedi reportedly only learned the film’s title halfway through filming, revealed by co-actor Ishaan Khatter — underscoring how organically the project developed beyond initial marketing strategies.

📈 Expectations & Cultural Impact

1. Social Relevance — By tackling caste openly within a romantic drama, Dhadak 2 pushes Bollywood’s boundaries further than most commercial films dare.
2. Performances — Siddhant and Triptii are expected to deliver emotionally rich and authentic portrayals. Pre-release reactions and trailer footage suggest strong chemistry rooted in realism rather than melodrama.
3. Direction & Script — Shazia Iqbal’s grounded, socially conscious storytelling marks her as a filmmaker with conscience and clarity, avoiding preachiness while retaining cinematic power.
4. Music as Narrative — The songs are poised to carry emotional depth and reflect the pain and protest at the heart of the story, similar to the role of music in many socially-driven Indian films.
5. Public Discourse — The film arrives at a time when caste-based issues remain highly relevant in India, particularly around education, marriage, and politics. Its release may spark broader conversations beyond cinema audiences.

📅 Summary Table

🎯 Final Words

Dhadak 2 is positioned to be more than just a typical Bollywood romance — it is a cinematic statement on caste, identity, and enduring love amid social injustice. With credible lead actors, socially engaged direction, a nuanced screenplay, and music that complements its emotional landscape, the film aims to provoke thought and conversation, beyond ticket sales.

Bollywood is gearing up for a socially conscious August 2025 release schedule, and Dhadak 2 stands out as a heartfelt yet protested love story that could redefine how mainstream cinema tackles caste.