‘Dacoit’ Actors Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur On Working with Anurag Kashyap: 'We Were A Little Scared'

In the lead-up to the release of action-drama Dacoit, actor-writer Adivi Sesh opened up about his collaboration with filmmaker-actor Anurag Kashyap. While primarily known for championing independent Indian cinema, Kashyap played a role on set that was far beyond his performance, Sesh revealed.

For the actor, the decision to bring him on the project was also the result of a long-standing admiration for the director’s craft. “Black Friday is one of the reasons I wanted to make films," recalled Sesh recalled in an exclusive conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, noting that Kashyap’s sense of the craft is extraordinary. While there were some initial nerves about working with him, the team found Kashyap to be a grounding presence. “We were a little scared because he’s a legend,” Sesh admitted. Yet, he found the filmmaker to have a child-like genuineness and honesty which led him to eventually ask Kashyap to mentor him.

Their relationship manifested in a unique way during production. Kashyap, whom Sesh jokingly refers to as “India’s best Hindi dialogue writer”, provided what he terms as “tremendous emotional guidance” all along the shoot.

According to the actor, what sets Kashyap apart is also that he remains “unfazed by the idea of big or small,” displaying a rare humility. “Within the same hour, I saw him talking to a film student looking for work, asking him to fly down to Bombay and booking him tickets and in that same hour, we’d find him talking to an Oscar-winning filmmaker," Sesh shared, highlighting his ability to give back to cinema.

Sesh recalled a moment where Kashyap “sheepishly” offered to give directorial advice for a specific sequence. This sequence ended up becoming the last shot in the trailer, which will be released soon.

Mrunal Thakur, the other lead in the film, expressed that it is a rare experience to watch someone so authentic completely transform into a character in front of the camera. “He’s just so fluid and authentic, I don’t think there’s another Anurag Kashyap in the world,” she remarked. She also recalls being conscious at first but eventually finding him to be incredibly supportive on set and thereon the shoot was just them having fun.

Directed by Shaneil Deo, Dacoit is an emotionally driven action-drama. While the film features typical gritty action, Sesh insists that the heart of the story is the relationship between the two leads. The film is set to release in theatres on April 10, 2026.

Watch our full interview with Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, dropping later today on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube channel.