Karan Johar on Dhadak 2: 'My apologies we're remaking Pariyerum Perumal but...'
Karan Johar assured that Dhadak 2 would retain the hard-hitting themes of Pariyerum Perumal, which explored caste-based violence.
Dhadak 2 is the remake of Pariyerum Perumal
Bollywood producer-filmmaker Karan Johar has apologized to his Tamil counterpart Pa Ranjith over the decision to remake the 2018 socio-political drama Pariyerum Perumal. Karan is producing the Hindi remake titled Dhadak 2, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles.
Fans of the original Tamil film, including producer Pa Ranjith, have expressed concerns that the core conflict of the story might be diluted to make it more palatable for Hindi audiences. The topic was brought up during The Hollywood Reporter India's roundtable discussion.
"My apologies for remaking it, but it was a film that was wholesome on its own. It was fantastic, and I am proud to tell that story in Hindi," Karan said.
Karan revealed that he first watched Pariyerum Perumal during the pandemic and was deeply moved by its emotional weight, similar to his experience with Sairat, which he remade as Dhadak. However, Dhadak was criticized for losing the intensity of the original Marathi film.
Karan reassured that this would not be the case with Dhadak 2. "We are not holding back from the core conflict of the film or its depiction. I don't want to say too much for those who haven't seen the original, but we have stayed true to the story. It’s as hard-hitting and impactful as the original," he promised.
Karan also highlighted that selecting Shazia Iqbal to direct Dhadak 2 signals his commitment to maintaining the essence of Pariyerum Perumal.
Ranjith seemed visibly pleased upon hearing Karan’s promise. He also noted that issues stemming from caste discrimination are a nationwide problem, not just limited to Tamil Nadu.
The original Pariyerum Perumal, directed by Mari Selvaraj and produced by Pa Ranjith, deals with caste-based violence and the struggles of marginalized communities.