Who Is Shazia Iqbal, fearless filmmaker behind Dhadak 2? Her journey from production design to driving social change

Dhadak 2, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, is earning strong acclaim for its compelling storytelling and rare, unflinching portrayal of caste discrimination. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, the film has collected approximately Rs 17.94 crore domestically (gross) and Rs 2.62 crore overseas, bringing its worldwide gross to around Rs 20.56 crore against an estimated Rs 40 crore budget.

This isn’t Iqbal’s first foray into powerfully conscious storytelling. She began her career in production design, contributing to acclaimed projects like Mukkabaaz and Sacred Games, before transitioning into directing. Her acclaimed short film Bebaak (2019) won the Filmfare Award for Best Short Film (Fiction) and the Audience Choice Award at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles. Inspired by true events, Bebaak tells the story of Fatin, a young woman from a modest background who endures harsh, misogynistic judgment during a scholarship interview.

Now, with her feature debut, Dhadak 2, Iqbal adapts the highly celebrated Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal (2018), bringing its emotionally charged narrative into the Hindi mainstream. The film is produced by Dharma Productions, Zee Studios, and Cloud 9 Pictures.

Iqbal has shared in interviews, such as to Scroll, that she gravitates toward stories that challenge societal norms and highlight social issues without becoming too heavy or didactic. Even in lighter genres, her films carry undercurrents of injustice and inequality. She emphasises the importance of films with strong messages reaching broad audiences, valuing both festival recognition and commercial appeal—a balance exemplified by films like the raw, painful Marathi hit Sairat. She has expressed a desire to reclaim this kind of cinema.

 Dhadak 2 may have faced a tough run at the box office during its first week, but the film has sparked much discussion on Twitter, Reddit, owing to its story and strong reviews. Opening with a decent weekend collection and peaking on Sunday, the film managed to draw attention with its sensitive portrayal of caste and social issues. While collections slowed as the week progressed, the film’s impact has managed to go beyond the numbers.