Director Shazia Iqbal's upcoming feature Dhadak 2 has been facing intense scrutiny over the last few weeks for its change in setting and characterisation from the original film, Pariyerum Perumal, on which it is based. Beyond the censorship it faced recently, the film has been at the centre of a social media debate over originality versus adaptation in Hindi cinema. Audiences, especially those who feel that Dhadak lacks the authenticity of its original Sairat, fear whether it would go the same path as the 2018 film. In addition, the casting of Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri in the film's lead roles make viewers wonder whether the romance angle will have more focus than the commentary on caste. They wonder whether the film uses the love story as the core plot device instead of a way of exploring caste. A kiss sequence in the Dhadak 2 trailer has also been a topic of debate among those who fear the film will prioritise commercial romantic elements over the original's gritty realism.

Add to the above the association of Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and the precedent set by Dhadak, and scepticism has understandably been growing over the upcoming film. Fans wonder whether it would dilute the hard-hitting impact of the original. Meanwhile, Pariyerum Perumal lead actor Kathir has expressed his excitement about the upcoming film. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, he said that he is "looking forward to watching Dhadak 2." More specifically, he expressed his curiosity to see the impact of the modifications to the original film.

Interestingly, Meesha, which marks Kathir's debut in Malayalam cinema, is slated to hit theatres tomorrow, alongside the Siddhant Chaturvedi-Triptii Dimri film. Now, it remains to be seen whether Dhadak 2 will live up to the actor's expectations.