Adivi Sesh reveals why Dacoit was delayed and why he’s unfazed by its box-office clash with other major releases. The actor, who prides himself on being an “underdog,” says the festival weekend makes it the perfect release window
Adivi Sesh
The much-awaited bilingual action drama Dacoit, starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, has been creating quite a buzz nationwide. Originally slated for a December release, the film faced a delay after Sesh sustained an injury during filming. It will now hit theatres on March 19, 2026, coinciding with Gudi Padwa, Ugadi, and Eid. Interestingly, this new date aligns with the release of other major films, sparking talk of a box-office clash.
Adivi Sesh on Dacoit's delay
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Adivi Sesh opened up about Dacoit’s delay, the decision behind its new release date, and why the ‘clash’ doesn’t stress him.
Talking about the delay, Sesh said, “I have always taken a long time to make films. Earlier, no one knew me, so it didn’t matter. With Major, people felt the delay was due to Covid-19. I’ve always taken up to two years to make a film. But this time, the delay happened because I injured myself. That created a situation where I couldn’t perform the remaining heavy-duty action scenes for 2–3 months. I’m still healing, but on the mend.”
Adivi Sesh on clashing with Yash's Toxic
Addressing the buzz around the theatrical clash with Yash's Toxic, Sesh took it in stride. “At the end of the day, films releasing on the same day can work. As a kid, I remember Lagaan and Gadar being released on the same day, and both are classics. ‘Clash’ is something the media talks about — for audiences, it’s about watching a good film. My own film Major clashed with Samrat Prithviraj and still did well. If a film is good, it finds its audience. With Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, and Eid coming together on the same weekend, it’s going to be a celebration.”
He added, “In 2018, when KGF: Chapter 1 released against Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero, it did incredibly well and changed filmmaking culture. KGF was the underdog then — I am now. I’ve happily made a career being the underdog. My whole career has been about surprising people — it’s become a habit.”
On releasing Dacoit for Ugadi
Sesh also revealed that the team briefly considered shifting the release before deciding Ugadi would be the perfect time. “Dacoit is a true-blue Hindi and Telugu film. We shot every scene in both languages. Ugadi is the Telugu New Year, just like Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra. It’s when students finish exams, and Eid adds to the festive mood — so it felt like the best moment for release.”
Since Dacoit was shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu, Sesh admitted that ensuring authenticity in both versions was a challenge. “Getting the cultural nuances right is tough. It’s important the scene resonates in its native language and doesn’t feel translated. Some scenes were completely changed; even the humour is different.”
Directed by Shaneil Deo, Dacoit also features Anurag Kashyap and Prakash Raj in key roles alongside Sesh and Mrunal Thakur. The film is set to release on March 19, 2026.
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