Adivi Sesh opens up on ‘Dacoit’ release timing amid stiff competition from ‘Dhurandhar’ 2: ‘Who can say what would’ve worked better?’

Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur’s love-action thriller Dacoit is enjoying a positive run at the box office. Initially slated to hit theatres on March 19, the film’s release was pushed to April 10 due to the massive buzz around Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge.Now, the lead actor has weighed in on whether delaying the film further could have resulted in a stronger opening. Dacoit made a solid start, earning around Rs 22 crore net in its opening weekend. However, it could not surpass Dhurandhar 2, which continues its record-breaking run even in its fourth week.Speaking to Hindustan Times, Adivi Sesh said, “Honestly, who can say?” He reflected on multiple factors that could have influenced the box office outcome.“I mean, had Dhurandhar not been around, had there not been a two-month IPL this time, or had Kantara and Vikram not been released day as Major...” he said, drawing parallels with his earlier film Major, which also faced tough competition but performed well.Despite the clash, the actor expressed satisfaction with the film’s performance. “But the destiny for this film has been beautifully positive, and I'm just grateful now,” he said. Addressing criticism around the film being labelled a blockbuster early on, Sesh defended the team’s intent. “To them it feels, ‘How can they?’ But at the end of the day, I'll tell you one thing: everything about our film has come from an honest space,” he added. According to Sacnilk, Dacoit has collected over Rs 43.89 crore worldwide as of day six.Helmed by debutant director Shaneil Deo, the film follows the story of Hari, who shares a loving relationship with Juliet. After being betrayed, he lands in prison and later escapes to seek revenge against his ex-girlfriend.The film also stars Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, Zayn Marie Khan and Atul Kulkarni in key roles.