Sadak 2
Sadak 2 is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language action drama film written and directed by Mahesh Bhatt, produced by Mukesh Bhatt under Vishesh Films and Star Studios, serving as a sequel to the 1991 film Sadak.[1][2]
The film stars Sanjay Dutt reprising his role as taxi driver Ravi Verma from the original, Alia Bhatt as Aarya Desai, Aditya Roy Kapur as Vishal, and Pooja Bhatt returning as Lily, with supporting roles by Jisshu Sengupta and others.[1][2]
It follows Ravi's involvement in rescuing Aarya from a manipulative cult led by a fraudulent godman, continuing themes of conspiracy and redemption from the predecessor.[1]
Originally slated for theatrical release, the film premiered directly on Disney+ Hotstar on 28 August 2020 due to cinema closures from the COVID-19 pandemic, marking Mahesh Bhatt's directorial return after two decades.[3]
Prior to release, its trailer garnered over 10 million dislikes on YouTube—one of the platform's highest—amid widespread boycott calls driven by accusations of nepotism against the Bhatt family and Alia Bhatt, intensified by public anger over industry favoritism following actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death.[4][5]
Critically, it was near-universally condemned for weak scripting, clichéd dialogues, poor performances, and outdated elements, earning an IMDb user rating of 1.2 out of 10 from nearly 100,000 votes, cementing its status as a commercial and artistic failure without traditional box office metrics due to the OTT format.[1][4]
Predecessor film
Sadak (1991)
Sadak is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language romantic action thriller film directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starring Sanjay Dutt as Ravi, a taxi driver haunted by the suicide of his sister following her molestation, who encounters Pooja (Pooja Bhatt), a young woman forced into prostitution by the ruthless gangster Maharani (Sadashiv Amrapurkar).[6] The narrative follows Ravi's path to redemption as he falls in love with Pooja and aids her escape from Maharani's clutches, leading to violent confrontations with the underworld figure and his syndicate, underscoring themes of personal trauma, love, and battling systemic exploitation.[7][8] Released on December 20, 1991, with a budget of approximately ₹3 crore, the film achieved commercial success, grossing ₹10.8 crore at the Indian box office and earning a super-hit verdict, placing it among the top-grossing Hindi films of the year.[9] Bhatt's direction drew from gritty realism, influenced by real Mumbai underbelly stories, marking a shift toward raw, socially edged narratives in 1990s Bollywood, with Dutt's portrayal of the brooding, vengeful Ravi solidifying his action-hero image amid the era's masala trends.[10] The film garnered a cult following for its unpolished depiction of redemption and underworld grit, though some critiques noted melodramatic elements over nuanced depth.[11] A sequel, Sadak 2, materialized nearly three decades later in 2020, delayed by Bhatt's pivot to production and television ventures post-Sadak, alongside Dutt's extensive filmography and intervening personal legal battles stemming from the 1993 Mumbai bombings case.[12] This hiatus reflected evolving industry dynamics, with the original's core elements—Ravi's character arc and anti-gangster motifs—retained to capitalize on nostalgic appeal.[13]Synopsis and cast
Plot summary
Ravi (Sanjay Dutt), a taxi driver grieving the death of his wife Pooja (Pooja Bhatt), attempts suicide but is interrupted by Aarya (Alia Bhatt), the daughter of industrialist Yogesh Desai (Jisshu Sengupta).[14][15] Aarya, who runs an online campaign called "India Fights Fake Gurus" to expose fraudulent spiritual leaders, blames the self-proclaimed godman Gyaan Prakash (Makarand Deshpande) for her mother Shakuntala's mysterious death two years prior and for manipulating her father and stepmother Nandini (Priyanka Bose) into a cult-like devotion.[14][15] To fulfill her late mother's wish of visiting Mount Kailash by her 21st birthday and to confront the godman, Aarya hires the reluctant Ravi as her driver for the perilous road trip.[14] En route to the godman's ashram, the duo picks up Aarya's boyfriend Vishal (Aditya Roy Kapur), a musician entangled in the unfolding conspiracy.[14][15] The group encounters attacks from the godman's henchmen, hallucinatory visions for Ravi (including hearing Pooja's voice), and revelations about the cult's exploitative practices, such as ritualistic scams preying on devotees' faith.[15] In the climax at the ashram, they infiltrate the inner sanctum, expose Gyaan Prakash's deceptions—including fabricated divine communications and financial fraud—and engage in action sequences leading to the godman's downfall and the trio's survival.[14][15] The narrative spans approximately 134 minutes, transitioning from Ravi's personal despair to a broader confrontation with societal gullibility toward false messiahs.[15]Cast and characters
Sanjay Dutt reprises his role as Ravi Verma, the cab driver from the original Sadak, serving as a central protective figure in the narrative.[16][2] Alia Bhatt plays Aarya Desai, a young woman entangled in the story's events, also appearing as Misha in a dual capacity.[16] Aditya Roy Kapur portrays Vishal Thakur, alternatively known as Munna Chauhan, depicted as Aarya's associate and ally.[16] Pooja Bhatt appears in a cameo as Priya Verma, Ravi's wife from the predecessor film, marking the only other returning character from the 1991 cast.[2][17] Supporting roles include Jisshu Sengupta as Yogesh Desai, Aarya's father; Makarand Deshpande as Gyaan Prakash; Priyanka Bose in an unspecified supporting part; and Gulshan Grover as a villainous antagonist.[16][2] No other actors from the original Sadak ensemble return, with the cast emphasizing new leads alongside the Bhatt family connections—Pooja Bhatt as actress and Alia Bhatt as lead, under their father Mahesh Bhatt's direction.[17][2]| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Sanjay Dutt | Ravi Verma |
| Alia Bhatt | Aarya Desai / Misha |
| Aditya Roy Kapur | Vishal Thakur / Munna Chauhan |
| Pooja Bhatt | Priya Verma (cameo) |
| Jisshu Sengupta | Yogesh Desai |
| Makarand Deshpande | Gyaan Prakash |
| Gulshan Grover | Antagonist |
Production
Development
Mahesh Bhatt conceived Sadak 2 as a sequel to his 1991 directorial Sadak, aiming to resolve lingering narrative threads from the original while marking his return to feature film direction after a 20-year absence focused on production and mentorship roles. The project stemmed from discussions initiated by Pooja Bhatt and Sanjay Dutt, who persuaded Bhatt to revive the story, with early reports of script development emerging by February 2018.[18] [19] Official announcement came on September 20, 2018, timed with Bhatt's 70th birthday, positioning the film as a family endeavor under Vishesh Films. The screenplay, penned by Mahesh Bhatt alongside Suhrita Sengupta, was completed by early 2019 and adapted the original's themes of redemption and loss to contemporary contexts, including critiques of exploitative spiritual gurus and mental health struggles like depression. Casting emphasized familial ties, with Alia Bhatt selected for the lead role of Arya, her debut collaboration with her father as director, intended to leverage her star power for the project's viability. Pre-production activities, such as location recce, commenced in November 2018, setting the stage for principal photography.[20] [21] The film carried an estimated budget of 40 crore INR, covering production costs exclusive of prints and advertising, which were minimized due to its direct-to-digital pivot. Facing theatrical uncertainties from the COVID-19 pandemic, producer Mukesh Bhatt secured a pre-release deal with Disney+ Hotstar in mid-2020, ensuring cost recovery through OTT rights acquisition as part of a broader slate of films bypassing cinemas. This financing strategy aligned with industry shifts toward streaming amid lockdowns, allowing completion of post-production elements like dubbing despite scheduling pressures.[22] [23] [24]Filming
Principal photography for Sadak 2 commenced in early 2019, with the initial schedule primarily conducted in Mumbai to accommodate the production's requirements.[25] The first phase wrapped on May 23, 2019, as announced by producer Pooja Bhatt.[26] Subsequent schedules shifted to outdoor locations in southern India, including Ooty for sequences focusing on character dynamics and Mysore for key scenes involving the ensemble cast.[27][28] These hilly terrains facilitated road trip elements central to the narrative's journey motif, supplemented by studio work in Mumbai for action sequences and visual effects integration. Cinematography was overseen by Jay I. Patel, who captured the film's visuals, while editing was managed by Sandeep Kurup to maintain pacing across the footage.[17][29] The production faced logistical disruptions in March 2020 when the final Ooty schedule was canceled amid the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, aligning with industry-wide shutdowns ordered by the Indian Cine Association effective March 19.[30] Co-producer Mukesh Bhatt indicated plans to resume shooting by early July 2020, allowing completion of principal photography despite the delays, with minimal reshoots required to finalize the film ahead of its August digital release.[31][32]Soundtrack
Composition and tracks
The soundtrack for Sadak 2 was composed by Jeet Gannguli, Ankit Tiwari, Samidh Mukherjee and Urvi, and Suniljeet, with primary lyrics penned by Rashmi Virag and Shabbir Ahmed for select tracks.[33][34] The album, consisting of eight songs, was released digitally on 22 August 2020 by Sony Music Entertainment India Pvt. Ltd., six days prior to the film's premiere on Disney+ Hotstar.[34][33]| No. | Title | Composer(s) | Singer(s) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tum Se Hi | Ankit Tiwari | Ankit Tiwari, Leena Bose | 4:20 |
| 2 | Shukriya | Jeet Gannguli | Jubin Nautiyal | 4:15 |
| 3 | Ishq Kamaal | Suniljeet | Javed Ali, Neeti Mohan | 4:05 |
| 4 | Dil Ki Purani Sadak | Samidh Mukherjee, Urvi | Samidh Mukherjee, Urvi | 4:30 |
| 5 | Chal Tera Shukriya | Jeet Gannguli | Arijit Singh | 4:10 |
| 6 | Tum Se Hi (Reprise) | Ankit Tiwari | Ankit Tiwari, Alia Bhatt | 4:05 |
| 7 | Ghar Aaja (Parinde) | Jeet Gannguli | Asees Kaur | 4:25 |
| 8 | Shukriya (Rendition) | Jeet Gannguli | Madhushree | 3:56 |