‘Dhadak 2’: Director Shazia Iqbal opens up on audiences initially labelling Siddhant Chaturvedi – Triptii Dimri starrer as a ‘disaster’

‘Dhadak 2’, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, premiered on August 1, 2025. Although it struggled initially at the box office and was called by some as a failure, it found a wider audience and appreciation after its release on Netflix. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, the movie stands out for its heartbreaking portrayal of caste-based discrimination and social inequality in present-day India, telling a love story that challenges fixed societal norms.

Audience response to ‘Dhadak’ and streaming success

Talking to Hindustan Times, Shazia discussed the audience’s initial reaction to ‘Dhadak 2’, which was widely called a ‘disaster,’ and the response to it after streaming on OTT platforms. She mentioned that despite not having many followers on Instagram, she receives roughly 20 messages per hour. The lead actor, Siddhant Chaturvedi also called her recently and expressed that this renewed response feels more significant than the theatrical release. She acknowledged that the film’s reach has definitely expanded since its OTT debut.

Expanding viewership and global reach

Iqbal mentioned that the movie is now being seen by many who previously missed it due to poor distribution. People from places like the United States, Mexico, and Japan are watching it, and it recently ranked among the top search results on Netflix in the UK. She said, “Our film was not distributed well, so people outside didn’t see it at all. People are watching it from different places, including the US, Mexico, and Japan. And it was in the top search list in the UK Netflix yesterday.”She believes the film was negatively impacted because shortly after its release, it was branded a flop or “box office disaster.” She also said, “I can tell you one thing: anyone who claims or projects that ‘we know what works’ is a complete scam. They don’t know.”

Challenges at the box office and creative approach

Shazia Iqbal also spoke about the intense competition at the box office, mentioning that they were situated between big projects. She admitted that, to be honest, she didn’t think they had done badly in business, but pointed out that online opinions label ‘Dhadak 2’ as a disaster and a flop. She found this a little heartbreaking since the film was made in a very massy, commercial, and entertaining style. She explained that had the film been intended for submission to Berlin or Cannes film festivals, the tone would have been approached differently. However, creating a terrific film that also appeals to the mainstream audience is incredibly difficult. Therefore, they embraced all the typical tropes, added songs, and still maintained the story’s integrity.Iqbal added, “Honestly, it is a little heartbreaking. The film was made in a very massy, commercial, entertaining tone. If I had made the same film with the thought of taking it to Berlin or Cannes (film festivals), I would have played differently with the tone. But the thing is, it’s extremely difficult to make a good film that is also mainstream. So we incorporated all the tropes and added songs, but did all that without taking anything away from the story.”

Predictions of cult status on OTT

Additionally, Shazia shared that many of her industry friends and journalists predicted the film would gain cult status on OTT platforms, with everyone expecting it to do well again there and informing her it would someday become a cult film.

‘Dhadak’s origin and connection to earlier works

The film is a Hindi adaptation of Mari Selvaraj’s 2018 Tamil movie ‘Pariyerum Perumal’. It also acts as a thematic continuation of the 2018 Hindi film ‘Dhadak’, which was originally based on the Marathi film ‘Sairat’.