Actor Adivi Sesh has called India a ‘nepo country’ as he spoke about his struggles before getting into the Telugu film industry. Speaking with Screen, Adivi said he received support from actors Mahesh Babu and Nani in the Telugu industry.
Adivi Sesh recalls getting judged during audition
The actor, who grew up in San Francisco before entering the Telugu film industry, was asked whether he felt like an outsider. Adivi said that he had travelled to Mumbai to audition for Ram Gopal Varma’s serial.
“So, after reading the lines in the audition, they asked, ‘Where are you from?’ When I said San Francisco, they said, ‘Yes, there’s an American accent in your Hindi.’ The next week, I went for an audition to the same place, I told them I’m from Hyderabad. So they said, ‘Oh ya, that’s why there’s a South Indian twang to your Hindi’ (laughs). So, I was too Indian for America, too American for India, too North Indian for South India, and too South Indian for North India,” he said.
Adivi talks about Telugu film industry
He responded to whether getting a break in the Telugu film industry was tough. “Honestly, even if you go to an Indian village, the son of a doctor becomes a doctor only, and a farmer’s son becomes a farmer. So, I think we’re a nepo country (laughs). But audiences don’t care. They’re interested if you do something that others are not. Now more than ever before, it’s very democratic. My luck is I earned respect of a lot of these film families from the first day itself. A lot of them have supported me. Like Mahesh Babu produced Major. Dacoit is being produced by Annapurna Studios (owned by Nagarjuna and family). My friend and favourite actor Nani produced Hit: The Second Case. So, it’s a matter of respect more than anything,” he added.
Adivi’s upcoming films
Fans will see Adivi with Mrunal Thakur in Shaneil Deo’s Dacoit. The film, which also stars Anurag Kashyap, is being shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu. Adivi also has G2 with Emraan Hashmi. The Telugu drama, which also stars Wamiqa Gabbi, will hit the theatres on May 1, 2026. Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi made his directorial debut with the movie. Murali Sharma, Supriya Yarlagadda, and Madhu Shalini are also a part of G2.
