Will there be a Sairat 2? Director Nagraj Manjule reveals his definitive plans

4 min readMumbaiJul 9, 2026 02:17 PM IST

Nagraj Manjule on making Sairat 2. (Photo: Nagraj Manjule/Instagram)

Filmmaker Nagraj Manjule elevated the stature of Marathi cinema with his 2016 National Award-winning romantic tragedy Sairat, starring Rinku Rajguru and Akash Thosar. The film went on to become the highest-grossing Marathi film of all time, a record it held for nearly a decade before Raja Shivaji surpassed it earlier this year. Sairat was also remade in Hindi as Dhadak (2018), marking Janhvi Kapoor’s big-screen debut. Last year, the franchise expanded with Dhadak 2, starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri.

Recently, while promoting his upcoming acting venture Frame, Nagraj Manjule spoke to SCREEN about the success of Sairat and whether he has any plans to make Sairat 2 following the release of Dhadak 2.

Nagraj Manjule on Sairat’s success

During the conversation, Nagraj Manule revealed he wrote the story of Saira with the simplest vision. He said, “I never looked at it as a challenge. I said what I wanted to with the film. When I was writing Sairat, I was thinking that the world we see in films where people fall in love is very different from the real world. In real life, we face challenges when in love. I didn’t need to dramatize it, so I kept it the way it is. What we think always is that the love story ends with happily ever after; we don’t see the problems in it, so my vision was to show that.”

Also Read: South Indian films work because they are better: Nagraj Manjule

Talking about the film’s success, the filmmaker said, “I never thought Sairat would be adapted by Bollywood. We just make our film. We don’t think about how much people will like it or if there will be a remake.”

Will Nagraj Manjule make Sairat 2?

Last year, Dharma Productions expanded the Dhadak franchise with a sequel. When asked whether that had inspired him to consider making Sairat 2, Nagraj Manjule said, “Sairat 2 doesn’t need to get inspired by Dhadak 2 to be made. If there is a story, Sairat 2 will be made. I feel that the story was complete in itself, but sometimes when people like a film, they want to see what happens further in it. A lot of people still ask me when I will make a sequel to Fandry. After Sairat came out, people forgot about it. But now they keep asking me about Sairat 2. I feel it is a world where much can be spoken about, but I have not thought about it.”

Nagraj also spoke about the growth of Marathi cinema, reflecting on how the distinction between mainstream and regional cinema has evolved. His Frame co-star Amey Wagh pointed out that Marathi cinema delivered seven hits in the first six months of 2026, adding that Sairat had “opened a door to a room full of treasure.” Sharing how Marathi cinema is growing, Nagraj said, “Raja Shivaji and Deoband have crossed Rs 100 crore. A couple of other films earned around Rs 30-40 crore. So, what is counted as mainstream now? Baahubali was Telugu, Kantara was in Kannada, Pushpa was in Telugu, but so many people watched it.  A film becomes mainstream when everyone likes it. Language has nothing to do with it. There are so many Hindi films also that don’t reach a wide audience, so we can call that regional too.”

On the work front, Nagraj Manjule will be next seen in Vikram Patwardhan directorial Frame. The film, also starring Amey Wagh, revolves around the life of two photojournalists who come to a crossroads in life where they are torn between humanity and professional responsibility. The film releases on Zee5 on July 10.

Nawaz Javed Kochra is a seasoned entertainment journalist at The Indian Express Online, bringing nearly a decade of expertise to the forefront of cultural reporting. With a focus on the television and Over-The-Top (OTT) landscapes, he has established himself as a prominent voice in the industry, known for his high-profile celebrity interviews and insightful coverage of the Indian entertainment sector.

Experience & Career

Nawaz holds a Master of Arts in Communication and Journalism from Mumbai University, providing him with a rigorous academic and ethical foundation. In his 11-year career, he has navigated through several of India's leading media houses, building a portfolio that spans digital, print, and broadcast media:

The Indian Express: Currently leads coverage of TV and OTT content, producing both written analysis and popular video interview segments.

Former Roles: He began his career at the iconic Stardust Magazine and later held key positions at Zoom TV, Zee Multimedia, MissMalini, Bollywood Bubble, and Raindrop Media.

Expertise & Focus Areas

Nawaz’s beat is characterized by a blend of exclusive access and trend analysis. His core areas of expertise include:

Reality Television: Specialized coverage of major franchises like Bigg Boss, providing behind-the-scenes insights and winner profiles.

OTT Ecosystem: Tracking the shift from traditional cable to digital streaming platforms, with a focus on web series and digital premieres.

Celebrity Profiles & Interviews: Nawaz is celebrated for his ability to foster candid conversations with industry stalwarts, from music composers like Amaal Mallik to other TV legends.

Investigative Entertainment News: Reporting on sensitive industry developments, including legal disputes and personal stories of resilience within the acting community.

Authoritativeness & Trust

With a reputation built on years of networking and credible reporting, Nawaz Kochra is a "known face" in the Mumbai media circuit. His work at The Indian Express adheres to the publication's "Journalism of Courage" standard, ensuring that even entertainment reporting is approached with accuracy, sensitivity, and transparency. His educational background and extensive tenure across diverse media platforms provide him with the authoritative perspective required to analyze the rapid evolution of Indian show business. ... Read More

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