‘Dhadak 2 is a punch in the gut': Anurag Kashyap hails Karan Johar's film, compares it to works of Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra
In a long Instagram post, Anurag wrote, 'The film captures the conversation that we avoid on a day to day basis. This is what mainstream cinema was meant to be, and this is what great filmmakers like Raj Kapoor, Bimal Roy, Guru Dutt, K A Abbas, B R Chopra, Yash Chopra and so many used to do. We forgot to make mainstream films of social relevance. They got relegated to independent art house cinema.'
Anurag Kashyap also compared Dhadak 2 to the hard-hitting and compelling social cinema often produced in the South Indian film industry. Dhadak 2 is a remake of the critically acclaimed Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal, which follows the story of Nilesh, a Dalit law student, and his relationship with Vidhi, a classmate from an upper-caste family. The film portrays how Vidhi's family begins to harass Nilesh after discovering their affair.
A post shared by Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap10)
Lauding the makers for retaining the essence of the original film in the remake, Anurag Kashyap wrote, 'This is what Tamizh cinema and so much of cinema from South still does. A mainstream adaptation of Periyarum Perumal, without losing the essence of it, Dhadak 2 is a punch in the gut. My driver and old friend of 16 years Narayan ji who went with me wept at the end of it and hasn't stopped talking about it since. An extremely brave and powerful film from @dharmamovies. See it for yourself. I won't say much. Congratulations to the whole team. @prashant316 @animeshpanwar @sanyukta_mohta and others that I don't know. Well done team. @somenmishra @karanjohar.'
Dhadak 2 opened at the box office on Friday with Rs 3.5 crore. It earned Rs 3.75 crore on Saturday, bringing its total domestic collection to Rs 7.25 crore.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Coolie vs War 2 North America advance booking: Rajinikanth's film races ahead with $1.06M, Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR follows at $168K
This Independence Day will see the clash of two mega tentpoles from India — Lokesh Kanagaraj's action thriller Coolie, starring Rajinikanth, and Ayan Mukerji's spy thriller War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. While the advance booking in India hasn't started yet, if the US advance ticket sales are anything to go by yet, Coolie is leading the race with a rather wide margin. The advance booking of Coolie in North America currently stands at $1.06 million. It's become the fastest Tamil film to cross the $1 million mark in its pre-sales in North America. This includes $850K from just the cinemas in the US alone, where it's sold over 35,000 tickets already. It's releasing with 1147 shows at 430 locations across the US, as per Sacnilk. With this milestone, Coolie has entered the short list of Tamil blockbusters which hit the $1 million mark through just its advance booking in North America. The other members of this coveted club include another Rajinikanth action drama, Pa Ranjith's Kabali (2016), which stands at $1.92 million, followed by another Kanagaraj action thriller, Leo (2023) starring Vijay, which garnered $1.86 million in its North America pre-sales. The third spot, which Coolie now follows, is held by Mani Ratnam's 2022 historical epic Ponniyin Selvan I at $1.1 million. Meanwhile, War 2 lags far behind in comparison. It's collected $168K through 1585 shows at 582 locations across North America. Out of this, $150.9K has been collected from the US cinemas alone. Given the current trajectory, War 2 may not be able to even hit the $1 million mark in North America pre-sales, which Coolie has surpassed already, even 10 days before its worldwide release. However, War 2 has managed to outperform NTR's previous action tentpole, Koratala Siva's Devara last year. While Devara hit the $100K pre-sales mark in 11 hours, War 2 has managed to do that in only seven hours, becoming the fastest Indian film to do so in North America. War 2 is the sequel to Siddharth Anand's 2019 blockbuster War, starring Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Vaani Kapoor, and Ashutosh Rana. While Roshan and Rana reprise their roles in the sequel, they're being joined by NTR and Kiara Advani among others. War 2 will mark Mukerji's first directorial venture outside of his home turf, Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. War 2 is the next instalment in Aditya Chopra's ambitious YRF Spy Universe, which consists of blockbusters like the Tiger franchise, Pathaan, and War. Its next instalment is Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, which will release in cinemas this Christmas on December 25. Yash Raj Films is already reaping the benefits of its latest global box office success, Mohit Suri's romantic drama Saiyaara. Also Read — Rajinikanth recalls the only time he cried in his life: 'I was working as a coolie, my friend mocked me and gave Rs 2 for…' Meanwhile, Coolie is a part of the Lokiverse or the LCU (Lokesh Cinematic Universe), which already consists of Kaithi, Vikram, and Leo. Coolie also stars Nagarjuna, Soubin Shahir, Shruti Haasan, Pooja Hegde, and Sathyaraj, along with a cameo by Aamir Khan. Both Coolie and War 2 will release in cinemas worldwide on August 14.
Indian Express
11 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Dhanush slams Raanjhanaa's AI-altered ending after Anand L Rai, Varun Grover; calls it ‘a deeply concerning precedent': ‘It has stripped the film of its very soul'
Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor starrer Raanjhanaa recently grabbed headlines for its AI-altered climax in its re-release (August 1) version at the theatres. After director Aanand L Rai, the film's lead actor Dhanush has also come forward to call out the changes made using AI, stating that the ending has snatched away the movie's soul. On the other hand, Raanjhanaa's production banner Eros International described it as 'creative reimagining'. Dhanush issued a statement, slamming the move, on his social media handle on Sunday. Captioned as 'For the love of cinema', Dhanush wrote, 'The re-release of 'Raanjhanaa' with an AI-altered climax has completely disturbed me. This alternate ending has stripped the film of its very soul, and the concerned parties went ahead with it despite my clear objection.' He added, 'This is not the film I committed to 12 years ago. The use of AI to alter films or content is a deeply concerning precedent for both art and artists. It threatens the integrity of storytelling and the legacy of cinema. I sincerely hope that stricter regulations are put in place to prevent such practices in the future. For the love of cinema 🙏 — Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) August 3, 2025 Rai had told SCREEN, 'I got to know about it through a social media announcement a couple of days ago. People have already been messaging me asking me why that ending is being changed. I just can't wrap my head around this. I don't get it, how can they do this? It's an ending people have loved! If not the filmmaker, at least listen to the audience.' Rai later shared a long note on his Instagram handle. 'The past three weeks have been surreal and deeply upsetting. To see 'Raanjhanaa', a film born out of care, conflict, collaboration and creative risk, being altered, repackaged and re-released without my knowledge or consent has been nothing short of devastating. What makes it even more disheartening is the casual manner in which it's been done. And yet, amid all of this, the outpouring of support and solidarity from the industry, audiences and the wider creative community has reminded me what 'Raanjhanaa' originally stood for: connection, courage and truth. I am immensely grateful for that,' he wrote. ALSO READ | Raanjhanaa's AI-altered re-release: Why director Aanand L Rai is unhappy, what the law says 'I had no involvement in it. Nor did the team that originally made the film. Regardless of what it claims to be, this is not the film we set out to create. 'Raanjhanaa' was never just a film to us, it was a work crafted by human hands, shaped by human flaws and genuine emotion. What is currently being circulated is not a tribute, but a reckless hijacking that robs the piece of its intent, its context and its soul. The notion that a machine can alter our work and present it as innovation is profoundly disrespectful. Repackaging a film's emotional legacy in synthetic form without consent is not creativity, it is a betrayal of everything we built,' Anand added. A post shared by Aanand L Rai (@aanandlrai) In a statement to SCREEN, Eros mentioned that the film's re-release is a part of their company's strategy to reintroduce classic cinema and they have complete rights to do so. They also 'categorically' rejected the director's allegations. The company's group CEO, Pradeep Dwivedi, said, 'This is a creative reimagining, not a replacement, and is consistent with global industry practices, including anniversary editions, alternate cuts, and modernised remasters. We categorically reject Mr Rai's allegations, which are not only factually incorrect but also legally unfounded. The re-release is a respectful reinterpretation and not a 'tampering' of the original. It is clearly positioned as an alternate, AI-enhanced version—akin to Classic cuts or re-edits seen globally.' Meanwhile, writer-lyricist Varun Grover also reacted to the news and called it a 'dystopian experiment wrapped in comedy.' In a reel on Instagram, he said, 'The film is good,' his uncle told him, 'but just change the ending and it'll be a hit.' He further elaborated how he avoided making the change due to budget and logistical barriers. 'But apparently, someone else's uncle has enough to AI-edit Raanjhanaa, make it a happy ending, and re-release it. So, whoever's uncle it is, namaste to them,' he added, with a frown. A post shared by Varun Grover (@vidushak) The film was re-released at the theatres in Tamil Nadu as Ambikapathy with a different AI-generated 'happy' ending, which is a first for the industry. Raanjhanaa tells the story of Kundan (Dhanush), a Hindu boy who falls in love with Zoya (Sonam Kapoor), a Muslim girl. In the original ending of the film, Kundan is shot and he dies at the hospital. However, in the AI-altered version in Tamil, the movie doesn't end with his death. While some fans praised their efforts, others expressed disappointment about the ending on social media.
Economic Times
11 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Who is Safira, Sunjay Kapur's stepdaughter, caught in the Rs 30,000 crore succession battle?
Sunjay Kapur died on 12 June 2025 while playing polo at Guards Polo Club in London. Witnesses say he collapsed shortly after exiting the field. Sources close to the family claim a bee sting to his throat caused a sudden heart attack. He was pronounced dead on passing, initially mourned as a tragic accident, quickly spiralled into something else entirely. A sprawling inheritance, unresolved legal claims, and growing unease around corporate appointments have pulled the curtain back on deep family fractures. Sunjay Kapur had three biological children. Two with actor Karisma Kapoor: daughter Samaira (20) and son Kiaan (14). A third, Azarius (6), was born to his current wife Priya Sachdev Kapur. In addition, there's Safira, Priya's daughter from her previous marriage to hotelier Vikram Chatwal. Reports suggest Sunjay legally adopted her. That status, if verified, gives her equal footing with his biological children under Indian inheritance law. However, if adopted, she may no longer have a claim to her biological father's estate. The legal standing of these relationships now defines who may inherit what from the vast Rs 30,000 crore fortune, which includes a key stake in Sona Comstar, held via the RK Family Trust. Social media sleuths were quick to point out that both Priya and Safira appear to have changed their surnames online. Priya now goes by Priya Sunjay Kapur, while Safira has removed 'Chatwal' from her timing of these name changes, coming just weeks after Sunjay's death has set off speculation. Some online users saw it as strategic. One Reddit user posted, 'This is all playing out like a corporate soap opera. First Priya changes her name, now her daughter? Looks like a calculated move in a bigger game.'Others saw it differently. 'Sunjay had legally adopted Safira. She has every right to honour him in her name,' said another the 2016 divorce between Karisma and Sunjay, his children from that marriage appear to have been financially looked after. Media reports say Samaira and Kiaan were each given bonds worth Rs 14 crore and guaranteed a monthly income of Rs 10 Kapoor was reportedly given a home that previously belonged to Sunjay's father, Dr Surinder Kapur. A family source told ETimes, 'The children will receive what is due to them. Karisma's focus remains entirely on them.'That same source also said, 'Karisma Kapoor is not involved in any inheritance or property-related matters. She has no claim, nor is she seeking any share in the estate.'As Sunjay's wife at the time of his death, Priya is automatically entitled to a significant share of his estate in the absence of a will. Their son, Azarius, being his biological child, is also a direct legal was the sole beneficiary of the RK Family Trust, which controls the promoter stake in Sona Comstar via Aureus Investments Pvt Ltd. This places both Priya and Azarius in a powerful legal position, especially if no formal will Sunjay legally adopted Safira, she is entitled to inherit. But this also complicates her relationship with her biological father, Vikram Chatwal, as Indian law prevents dual inheritance across biological and adoptive is no public record of a will, and without that, the decision may fall to the courts. Her Instagram shows no surname at present. Priya's account now reads 'Priya S Kapur'. Whether 'S' stands for Sunjay or Sachdev, observers have not stopped mother, Rani Kapur, has publicly challenged recent developments within the company. She submitted a letter to SEBI and shareholders raising concerns about her treatment and the direction of the firm.'I was emotionally shattered and coerced into signing documents I hadn't seen. This AGM is a betrayal of the family legacy,' she wrote, objecting to Priya's appointment as non-executive director of Sona also told ANI, 'I still don't know what happened to my son. I'm old now, and I need closure before I go.' She added, 'Our family legacy must not be lost. It must be passed on as my husband always wanted it to be.'The company responded firmly. It stated that Rani Kapur had not held shares in the firm since 2019 and that Priya's appointment was made with shareholder approval and due Sunjay's death, Sona Comstar's shares dropped by 7 percent, reflecting investor anxiety over the leadership vacuum and family discord. The firm has since appointed Jeffrey Mark Overly as its new a statement, the company said, 'His vision, values, and dedication to excellence have left a lasting legacy for the company. We assure our customers, business partners, employees, and shareholders that our operations and prospects remain unchanged as we honour his legacy.'Sunjay Kapur married Karisma Kapoor in 2003. They had Samaira in 2005 and Kiaan in 2011. The couple separated in 2014 and divorced two years later, with Karisma retaining custody and Sunjay receiving visitation later married Priya Sachdev, a model and entrepreneur. They had a son, Azarius, in 2018. Before both women, Sunjay was also briefly married to designer Nandita Mahtani. Safira, born in 2007, is Priya's daughter with Vikram Chatwal. The couple divorced in 2011. According to BollywoodShaadis, Sunjay legally adopted Safira under Indian law. She currently studies at Marlborough College in the UK and is said to be interested in international relations and geopolitics. More than a month after Sunjay Kapur's sudden death, the questions haven't faded. If anything, they've become sharper. Who controls the empire? Is there a will? And what does this mean for Sona Comstar?In the absence of clarity, the dispute may shift from whispers and statements to courtrooms. With money, control and family legacy at stake, this is one inheritance battle that won't disappear quietly.
