
Karan Johar is clearly wearing his heart on his sleeve — and this time, it is not about box office numbers, but about something far more meaningful.
The filmmaker recently shared how proud he feels after his 2025 film Dhadak 2 was screened at several Ivy League universities in the United States.
Taking to Instagram Stories, Karan Johar described the moment as deeply special, writing, "Dhadak 2 being screened at all the IVY league universities is such a great moment of pride for us @dharmamovies ....The love and respect it had garnered over the past few months had been overwhelming, and I give all credit to the immensely talented @shazia.iqbal8 for being this important voice and storyteller!!! She is the soul of our film..."
For Karan Johar, this recognition appears to go beyond prestige. It reflects the impact of a story that was made with intention. Directed by Shazia Iqbal, Dhadak 2 explores caste divides, class prejudice and the emotional cost of loving across rigid social boundaries.
The fact that institutions such as Yale and Brown chose to host screenings speaks to the film’s relevance in academic and social conversations.
The film has already been screened at Yale University’s Luce Hall by the Department of Political Science and at Brown University’s Watson School of International and Public Affairs. Upcoming screenings at Columbia University and Princeton University suggest that the conversation is far from over.
At its heart, Dhadak 2 tells the story of Neelesh and Vidhi, portrayed by Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri — two young people navigating love in the face of deep-rooted social barriers.
While the film had a modest theatrical run after facing certification delays, it seems to have found a second life through streaming and now academic engagement.
For Karan Johar, who has often been associated with glossy romances, Dhadak 2 represents something different — a socially aware narrative driven by a strong directorial voice.
His public praise for Shazia Iqbal underscores that this moment belongs as much to her as it does to the production house.
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