Dacoit Review: Emotional Love Story With Solid Performances

Dacoit: A Love Story, a bilingual action thriller starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, hit theaters today (April 10, 2026). Directed by Shaneil Deo and produced by Annapurna Studios, the film generated significant buzz with its striking promos and intense premise. Here’s our complete Dacoit review.

Story

Hari (Adivi Sesh) ends up in jail for a crime he did not commit because of wrong testimony given by Saraswathi (Mrunal Thakur), whom he loves deeply and calls Juliet. He escapes from jail and vows to make her life hell. The rest of the film follows how Hari executes his revenge plans, what made Saraswathi betray him, and how their tumultuous journey ends.

Performances

Adivi Sesh does a decent job in the lead role. He shines in emotional scenes and delivers several punchy dialogues with conviction. However, the inconsistency in his accent is somewhat distracting. Mrunal Thakur is good, adding emotional depth to her character and maintaining that intensity throughout the film.

Anurag Kashyap is alright in his role, while Zyan Marie Khan, Prakash Raj, Atul Kulkarni, Suneel, and Zarina Wahab did not have much scope to showcase their talents.

Analysis

Shaneil Deo directs Dacoit, which has Adivi Sesh as the center of attraction. Sesh is known for picking unique or offbeat scripts, but this time he chooses a relatively conventional story that demands solid screenplay execution to stand out.

The premise is established quickly in the opening minutes. Since the story is largely revealed in the trailer itself—a hero betrayed by his lover seeking revenge after breaking out of jail—the film relies heavily on emotional beats and twists to engage viewers. The flashback sequences work reasonably well, and the Rubaru song creates a romantic high. The Kannepittaro moment brings the elevation, while Mrunal Thakur‘s character struggles are established in a standard manner. However, her first meeting with Sesh is nicely crafted.

The crime element adds intrigue, and the heist episodes in the first half maintain momentum. In the second half, Dacoit shifts focus toward emotional storytelling, using action sequences sparingly but effectively.

The twists and backstory are fairly predictable, but the emotional impact lands well in key moments, particularly the scene between the child and Adivi Sesh. The action sequence near the climax feels stretched, but the final twist delivers the right emotional punch, elevating the conclusion.

Positives

• Mrunal Thakur and Adivi Sesh‘s performances
• Heist episodes in the first half
• Visuals and background score
• Emotional climax

Negatives

• Predictable scenes, especially the backstory
• Stretched sequences in the second half
• Overall pacing feels slow at times

Final Verdict

Dacoit features strong performances from Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, impressive technical work, and an emotionally satisfying climax. While the stretched screenplay and predictable moments hold it back from greatness, the film still emerges as a decent one-time watch.