The much-awaited Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter-starrer Dhadak has finally been released and has opened to mixed yet promising reviews. Considering it’s an adaption of a blockbuster Marathi film Sairat, too many expectations are pinned to the film. Let’s see whether Dhadak, lives up to it to all…
Here are some excerpts of the reviews from some popular Indian publications:
DNA India: The magical romantic drama gives birth to new young stars – Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter
Rating: 4/5
“The nice thing about Dhadak is that it neither overwhelms nor underwhelms you. It pushes all the right buttons and when you leave the theatre, you are satisfied. The climax (which we can’t reveal) is short yet spellbinding.
Of course, the real reason to see this film are the two young actors. Janhvi is a chip off the old block, Sridevi. As for Ishaan, he notches up yet another superb performance, making room for himself amongst B-Town’s most-promising actors. Give Dhadak a chance, if you believe in young love!”
Times Now: Janhvi Kapoor has ‘star’ written all over her performance
Rating: 4/5
“Dhadak is an excellent piece of filmmaking with captivating performances from Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter. It is Bollywood commercial cinema at its best. Right from the word go, the film is so gripping that even cell phone users in theatres won’t be able to skip a moment of the film. Dhadak is well-edited, crisp and the audience won’t feel that the film dragging even for a second. The cinematography is breath-taking and the overall direction from Shashank Khaitan is commendable, entertaining and as engaging as his last two films – Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and Badrinath Ki Dulhania, if not more. The music of Ajay Atul is again symphony to the ears. Moreover, increasing the tempo of the Zingaat song worked better as it brought out more energy compared to the original in Sairat.”
Bollywood Hungama
Rating: 3.5/5
“Dhadak is adapted from Sairat. Shashank Khaitan’s story is on the same lines as the Marathi blockbuster with minor tweaks. His screenplay is very effective, manages to keep the film very rooted and also tells a very relatable story. The film begins on a nice note with the food eating competition sequence turning out to be quite interesting. The manner in which Madhukar and Parthvi’s love story develops will surely put a smile on the faces of the viewers. Ishaan Khatter had already proved his worth with Beyond the Clouds and with Dhadak, he proves that he’s definitely here to stay.  Janhvi Kapoor also does extremely well and exudes lot of confidence. She handles this difficult role with so much ease and that’s a feat for a newcomer. Definitely, a star is born!”
Times of India
Rating: 3.5/5
“The strength of Dhadak lies in its brimming freshness and innocence. That this film presents the new faces of Ishaan (one film old) and Janhvi (who marks her debut in Bollywood) works in the favour of its narrative. Like its original inspiration, Nagraj Manjule’s Sairat, the facet of love trying to survive the cruel world of politics and ruthless societal pressure, makes the film engaging. While it lacks the grit and detail of the original, director Shashank Khaitan’s Hindi adaptation still makes for a compelling watch. When it comes to the performances, Ishaan’s personality has the energy and zest of a newcomer, while his performance displays the cool confidence of a seasoned actor. Janhvi looks radiant and beautiful; her innocence makes you believe in the love story.”
Hindustan Times: Janhvi Kapoor, Ishaan Khatter film refreshing but weakÂ
Rating: 2.5/5
“Shashank Khaitan’s film has gloss and brightness. Vishnu Rao’s postcard images in Dhadak are soothing, charming and in sync with Dharma Productions’ popular perception. Janhvi’s accent aside, she has been beautifully presented. It seems like a very urban view at times, but then Janhvi and Ishaan were probably misfits for a rural setting. There are good tunes thrown in between but they don’t serve the purpose as Dhadak, overall, barely skims beyond the obvious. At 137-minute duration, it’s not as powerful as the original, but could be a good watch for audiences looking for decent fresh faces.”
Mumbai Mirror: Ishaan Khatter shines, Janhvi Kapoor conveys a range of emotions with the same facial expression
Rating: 2.5/5
“Debutante Kapoor conveys a range of emotions with the same facial expression. Sometimes an eyebrow goes up like an inverted Howrah bridge; at other times, the eyelids flicker like an ageing tubelight but it’s rarely in sync with the proceedings. But Kapoor’s insipid performance allows Khatter to shine in comparison.The young actor plunges into every emotion and situation his character finds himself in with complete immersion. Director Shashank Khaitan, who previously helmed Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania andBadrinath Ki Dulhania, plays it safe with this Rajasthani runaway bride. Sticking to tested tropes, he barely reinvents the premise of the original.”
The Indian Express: There is no ‘dhak dhak’ in this Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter starrer
Rating: 1.5/5
“That sense of playfulness which director Shashank Khaitan, going by his previous films (Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhaniya and Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya) exhibited in his earlier work, a quality which made his young leads spark, is missing from Dhadak. So is Johar’s uncanny ability to ratchet up emotions, to create frisson between two lovers, those moments full of awareness of the other, without which no love story can be effective. Barring a few patches, the film has neither requisite drama nor authenticity. It underlines all its scenes with blaring background music, to tell us how to feel. There is, I’m afraid, no ‘dhak dhak’ in this Dhadak.  The film gives us Udaipur and Kolkata and glossed-up grunge, and provides Madhukar and Parthavi some tough times, which they ride over so easily that the end is not earned enough.”
Despite the mixed reviews, we still want to give Dhadak a shot. Do you?
