Director Shazia Iqbal has voiced concerns over Bollywood’s lack of enthusiasm for socially relevant films, particularly those addressing caste politics, following the release of her debut feature, Dhadak 2. The film, which stars Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi, opened on August 1 and has garnered widespread critical acclaim.
In an exclusive interview, Shazia pointed out the industry’s selective approach towards supporting certain genres over meaningful narratives. “When a film makes ₹500 crore, there’s an instant noise; people want to explore that genre, like horror-comedy after Stree. But how much does critical acclaim matter to producers and studios when a film talks about caste in such a strong way?” she questioned. She further asked whether filmmakers feel the need to address caste issues openly, noting that such themes have rarely been portrayed even subtly in mainstream cinema.
Despite her frustration over the lack of industry backing, Shazia expressed happiness about the praise she has received from the filmmaking community. Notably, Cannes-winning director Payal Kapadia hailed Dhadak 2 as a “landmark film,” further cementing its significance in contemporary Indian cinema.
Adapted from the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal, Dhadak 2 tells the story of Neelesh, an oppressed-caste law student, and Vidhi, an upper-caste woman, whose romance faces violent societal opposition and systemic prejudice. Co-written by Iqbal and Rahul Badwelkar, the film has been produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures.
While Dhadak 2 has collected just over ₹20 crore in its first 10 days amid tough competition from titles like Son of Sardaar 2 and Saiyaara, Shazia remains hopeful that the industry will eventually prioritise stories with strong social messages for the sake of storytellers and audiences alike.