Dacoit: Authenticity was the priority, says Adivi Sesh

Emotional wrap and on-set experience

A. We shot our respective portions on different days. After giving my last shot—which also marked the film’s culmination—I rushed to my vanity van and became emotional. The film had been my life for the last two to three years. I also felt a deep sense of responsibility for the collaborators I had the opportunity to work with.

Adivi Sesh with Mrunal Thakur during the film's campaign.

Authenticity and audience response

A. One of the best things about this film was that we all shared a common dream. We always placed the film above ourselves as actors. Injuries are common in action films, but we overcame those challenges and gave it our best. I would be lying if I said there were no differences of opinion within the team, but we always fought for what we believed the film should be.

Meaning behind the title Dacoit

A. We wanted to show that a love story can exist within the periphery of violence. It’s a blend of action and romance. Dacoit is a film where action is driven by matters of the heart.

Adivi Sesh talks about his film Dacoit.

Approach for Hindi audience in a bilingual film

A. We share a broader cultural connection with nuanced differences. The Touch Buddy song by Jonita Gandhi, blending Bhojpuri and urban flavours, is an example of how we approached things in a fun and practical way for the Hindi audience.

When it comes to a story, I have always believed in telling it in its most authentic form. I don’t think it’s necessary to alter the setting of a story based on true events just to cater to a specific audience. So, we chose to narrate the story rooted in the Andhra Pradesh–Karnataka badlands in its original essence, allowing it to reach audiences in its own way.

Decision to shoot in two languages

A. It was a purely creative choice. Dubbing often increases production costs, but more than that, we wanted to maintain authenticity. Shaneil (Shaneil Deo, director who also contributed to the screenplay and story) and I felt that making the film in two languages would preserve its original essence and connect better with audiences.

Inclusion of Pawan Singh for a song

A. Our director Shaneil and I are familiar with Bhojpuri music, especially songs by Pawan Singh. We needed that flavour because it naturally connects beyond language. The cultural habits and emotions are similar across the north-south divide, and we felt his music would resonate with audiences across regions.

Adivi Sesh shares a picture with Pawan Singh (extreme right) and others on set.

Casting Zayn Marie Khan

A. We discovered her through Instagram reels and brought her to Hyderabad for a screen test, where she showed both the freshness of a newcomer and the confidence of an experienced actor. We later realised she is the daughter of filmmaker Mansoor Khan. We are very happy that we cast her purely on merit—it was a pleasant surprise for us.

(Photos: Adivi Sesh/Instagram)