Exclusive: Adivi Sesh calls Dacoit the Sholay of 2025, praises co-star Mrunal Thakur

India Today

13 hours ago

After carving a niche for himself in the action-thriller space with hits like 'Goodachari', 'Evaru', 'HIT 2', and 'Major', actor Adivi Sesh is now taking an exciting detour with his upcoming film 'Dacoit'. In an exclusive interview with IndiaToday.in, Sesh opened up about stepping into uncharted emotional territory, the creative vision behind 'Dacoit', and why working with Mrunal Thakur has been a transformative experience.advertisementON THE WORLD OF 'DACOIT'Calling Dacoit a 'passion project', Sesh revealed that the film is helmed by his best friend (Shaneil Deo), who, like him, grew up in California. 'He's simultaneously desi and American,' Sesh shared, adding, 'We wanted to tell the story of a modern-day cowboy, just without the costumes.'But this isn't just another stylised action film. 'No Indian story is a true Indian film without heart, without emotion,' he said. 'So we wanted all these heightened emotions in Dacoit set against the backdrop of an angry neo-Western, a 'Sholay' of 2025, if you will.'
Sesh added that the USP of the film is its love story. He said, 'What makes it ultra-special is that this film is ultimately a love story, in the garb of an action film.'ON PRODUCTION HURDLES, CREATIVE CLARITY'Dacoit' reportedly encountered a few setbacks during production, but Sesh insisted that the core creative vision remained intact. The project made headlines earlier this year after Shruti Haasan, who was initially cast as the female lead, exited the film following reported tensions with the makers.When asked about the same, Sesh said, 'It's not really a hurdle when you know that the creatives were never threatened. The affect to the mindset only happens if you don't truly know where you stand creatively. And that was never in doubt.'Watch 'Dacoit' first glimpse here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sesh Adivi (@adivisesh)ON GENRE-HOPPINGKnown for playing intense roles in police, spy, and army dramas, Sesh acknowledged the shift 'Dacoit' brings to his filmography. 'I am the titular urban action hero here. I get offered a cop film, an army film, a spy film, a patriotic film every week," he said.That's precisely why 'Dacoit' appealed to him. 'It was imperative for me to spread my wings, do genres outside the urban zone; something earthy, something rooted,' he explained.Sesh continued, 'At the same time, there's a certain decorated reality I love in my films. I haven't related to the hardcore mass space, not yet anyway. I like the idea of being relatable in a real way. That way, it feels like the guy you relate to is being put through something extraordinary, and you get invested in his journey, in his victory or his redemption.'CALLED MRUNAL HIS 'LIFE COACH'advertisementSesh further shared glowing praise for co-star Mrunal Thakur, calling her 'positive' and 'vibrant'. He added, 'Because she's constantly living out of her suitcase, she's figured out a way to make any place home. If home is where the heart is, she has her heart on her sleeve, so she's at home wherever she is. That's beautiful to watch and experience with her.'Known for her romantic roles in films like 'Sita Ramam' and 'Hi Nanna', Mrunal may be the poster girl of cinematic love stories, but 'Dacoit', Sesh said, is something else entirely. ''Sita Ramam' and her other films are soft films. 'Dacoit' has an angry edge. It's a deep love story coated in the hard shell of rage,' he explained.When asked whether he had taken any tips from her when it came to romance? Sesh answered, 'So, no tips regarding the film,' he laughed, 'but I have learned so much from her about how to approach life. She's become my defacto life coach in several instances. Imagine getting that for free! (laughs).'advertisementWith 'Dacoit', Adivi Sesh is clearly venturing beyond the action hero mould he helped shape in Telugu cinema. The film promises not just high-stakes action, but a raw, emotional core - something the actor seems deeply proud to bring to audiences.The film also stars Anurag Kashyap in an important role, and is set to hit theatres on December 25, 2025.- Ends