Filmmaker Karan Johar is beaming with pride as his latest production, Dhadak 2, earns a rare distinction on the global stage. While the film faced a challenging run at the domestic box office, it has found a powerful second life within the hallowed halls of the world’s most prestigious academic institutions.
Earlier today, Johar took to social media to celebrate the film being screened across various Ivy League campuses, including Yale and Columbia University. For the Dharma Productions head, this “global academic honor” signifies that the film’s message has resonated far beyond the traditional cinema halls.
A Story That Transcends Borders
Directed by Shazia Iqbal, Dhadak 2 is a spiritual sequel to the 2018 hit Dhadak and an adaptation of the acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal. Starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, the movie explores a raw and intense romance between Nilesh and Vidhi, two students whose love story is tragically complicated by deep-seated caste differences.
In an emotional Instagram post, Johar shared the film’s poster and expressed his gratitude:
“Dhadak 2 being screened at all the Ivy League universities is such a great moment of pride for us at dharmamovies. Seeing our story resonate in these prestigious academic spaces is a testament to the power of authentic storytelling.”
Why Academia is Tuning In
The film’s inclusion in university programs isn’t just for entertainment. At Yale University, the screening was hosted at Luce Hall as part of the “Film at Yale” series, presented by the Department of Political Science. Meanwhile, Columbia University featured the film in a collaborative event involving the Institute of Comparative Literature and Society (ICLS).
Academic experts and students have engaged with the film as a critical text for discussing Structural Inequality: The portrayal of caste dynamics in modern urban settings. Social Justice: How cinema can act as a mirror to systemic prejudices. Contemporary Indian Identity: The clash between traditional social hierarchies and the aspirations of the youth.
Celebrating the “Soul” of the Film
Karan Johar was quick to credit the film’s director, Shazia Iqbal, for this success. He referred to her as the “soul” of the project, praising her “talent and conviction” in bringing such a sensitive and vital narrative to life.
Despite the film’s “box office bomb” status—grossing approximately ₹30 crore against a ₹60 crore budget—this academic recognition offers a different kind of validation. It reinforces the idea that some films are measured not by their opening weekend collections, but by the conversations they ignite years after the credits roll. To know such latest updates tuned tellyboosters.com Thank you!
