Actor Adivi Sesh’s Dacoit is currently running in theatres. The action drama has collected just crossed ₹50 crore worldwide, according to its producers. For a film on a modest ₹65-crore budget, it job half done within its first week itself. As the film continues to draw viewers, Sesh sits down with Hindustan Times for a chat about its success, the expectations audiences have of him, and his career graph so far.

With Major, Goodachari, and now Dacoit, Sesh has become somewhat of a flagbearer of mid-budget Telugu cinema. But the actor says none of it is calculated. “I come out with the film once every two years. If I don’t do exactly what the heart says, then what is it all for? I don’t want it to be a brain investment. I want it to be a heart investment,” he explains.

But what is different about Dacoit is that it has certainly impressed the audiences, but not all the critics. Major, his most successful film to date, has an approval rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. For Dacoit, the figure is a rather low 30%. “I’ve always been the critical darling in the past, whether it was Major or some of my other films. This time, I didn’t get the [same] critical reaction,” admits Sesh.

However, he is quick to point out that the reviews have not seemed to affect the box office draw. “But what [we] got was the biggest opening of my career. And, usually, mid-range heroes have a steep fall on a Sunday or a Monday… and instead, we’re surging on a Tuesday. So for me, the audience response has been extraordinary,” he adds. Does this make him convinced that films are critic-proof now? Sesh chuckles and answers rather politically correctly, “I just think it’s a mixture of everything. They know that I’ve worked very hard. They know how many countless nights I had, and they can see that effort on screen.”

Dacoit, directed by Shaneil Deo, stars Sesh alongside Mrunal Thakur and Anurag Kashyap. The film opened to lukewarm reviews, but was able to gross ₹40 crore worldwide in its opening weekend. It has since added around ₹10 crore in three days.

Dhurandhar 2 actor Salim Siddiqui may be steadily carving a space for himself in the industry, but he attributes his journey to someone he never even met—legendary star Dharmendra. Looking back at his early days, Siddiqui shared how Dharmendra played a silent yet powerful role in shaping his journey. Siddiqui admitted that Dharmendra’s passing hit him deeply—almost like a personal bereavement. Siddiqui also expressed admiration for Sunny Deol, calling him a reflection of his father’s legacy.

Dhurandhar 2 actor Salim Siddiqui may be steadily carving a space for himself in the industry, but he attributes his journey to someone he never even met—legendary star Dharmendra.In a recent conversation on Divyank Kaushik’s podcast, Siddiqui spoke about admiration, loss, missed chances, and how the veteran actor’s blessings continue to guide him.

‘I never met him… but I grew up on his films’

Looking back at his early days, Siddiqui shared how Dharmendra played a silent yet powerful role in shaping his journey.“If I have to give credit for my success to someone, there is one person whose blessings I feel have truly stayed with me. I never met him, but I’ve been his biggest fan since childhood. I grew up watching his films. Through social media, I started interacting with him—I would write to him, and he would reply with blessings, saying, ‘Live long, you will be very successful.’Those were his blessings. I truly loved him. Last year, we lost him… and that absence will always remain. If I had ever met him or written to him about my journey, I think he would have been very happy. I would have definitely given him credit for everything. Maybe it’s because of his blessings that I’m here today, speaking to all of you.”

‘That loss felt personal’

Siddiqui admitted that Dharmendra’s passing hit him deeply—almost like a personal bereavement.“When the news first came, it was shocking. Even during that period when he seemed to recover, we kept hoping—‘he’ll come back, he’ll be fine.’ You try to console yourself like that.I loved him a lot. In fact, I tried so many times to meet him. Whenever I came to Mumbai for shoots, I would tell people, ‘Please try and arrange a meeting with him.’ I always felt that one day, I would definitely meet him. But that meeting never happened. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be. Still, wherever he is today, I believe he’s watching us and feeling happy.”

‘I wanted just one introduction’

The actor also revealed how he even saw professional opportunities as a chance to fulfil a personal dream.“I even gave many auditions for films featuring Sunny Deol—like Chup, 1947 Lahore, and a few others. I thought if I get selected and reach him, I’ll just make one request: ‘Please introduce me to Dharam sir once.’ That was the only wish.”‘No one like him’Remembering Dharmendra not just as a star but as a human being, Siddiqui said his warmth was unmatched.“He was incredibly warm and genuine. You know how some celebrities are surrounded by security and distance—but he was never like that. He would call people close, make them sit next to him, hug them. That kind of warmth is very rare. There can never be another like him.Everyone I’ve ever heard has only praised him. I’ve never heard a single negative thing—no attitude, no ego. He had a completely clean heart.”