The trailer for the upcoming film Dhadak 2, featuring Siddhanth Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, was recently unveiled, showcasing the actors’ impressive talent and chemistry that captivated fans. However, there is some discontent regarding the decision to darken Siddhant Chaturvedi’s complexion with makeup, as he portrays a character from a marginalized community who is impoverished.

Some users on social media have noted that the makeup approach resembles that used on Hrithik Roshan in Super 30. Others have expressed that while Siddhant Chaturvedi is undoubtedly a talented actor, Bollywood should not feel compelled to darken the appearances of its characters representing poverty. This discussion has gained significant traction across various social media platforms.

One Reddit user commented, “Even if they argue that poor individuals lack skincare routines and become tanned from not using sunscreen, why not cast an actual brown person instead of resorting to makeup and perpetuating stereotypes?” Another user remarked, “According to Bollywood, how can someone with a fair complexion be poor?” One individual stated, “This has always been an issue.” Another added, “Show the poor as dusky and the rich as fair – this is the stereotypical mindset of Bollywood films.”

Additionally, a commenter noted, “Continuously portraying one specific group with a certain skin tone perpetuates a stigma akin to ‘fair and lovely.’” One comment expressed, “That’s so terrible.” Another user pointed out, “I’ve also seen criticism directed at Janhvi’s clear skin in Good Luck Jerry, as if being poor inherently means one cannot have good skin or adhere to a basic skincare routine. It’s astonishing how some people expect poverty to be visually represented by dirt on the face, cracked lips, and dark circles; otherwise, it’s deemed ‘unbelievable.’”

In Dhadak 2, Siddhant takes on the role of Neelesh, a boy from a small town, delivering a powerful and emotionally charged performance as showcased in the trailer. Siddhant Chaturvedi has primarily played urban characters until now, making this his first foray into the portrayal of small-town India on screen – a choice that resonates with his roots in Ball.

At the launch of the Dhadak 2 trailer, Siddhant expressed, “As an actor, I consider myself incredibly lucky that Karan (Johar) sir believed in me and selected me to play a character from a small town. Up until now, the majority of the films I have worked on have been focused on urban settings, and given that I hail from a small town, Ballia, I have been longing for a narrative that reflects that small-town experience.”

Dhadak 2, directed by Shazia Iqbal in her first feature film, is produced by an impressive team that includes Karan Johar, Umesh Kumar Bansal, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Meenu Aroraa, Somen Mishra, and Pragati Deshmukh. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on August 1, 2025.