Adivi Sesh pivots to romance: 'When done right, it's deeply relatable'
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Adivi Sesh, fresh off the success of Dacoit, has signed on to headline two upcoming romantic dramas, signalling a deliberate shift toward intimate, emotionally layered storytelling. The Telugu-Tamil actor, who built his reputation on high-octane thrillers, says the pull toward romance-driven narratives reflects a conscious expansion of his range rather than a departure from action.
Why the genre pivot now
Speaking to NationPress, Sesh explained that after years of exploring "intense, high-stakes narratives," he has been "feeling a strong pull towards stories that are more intimate and emotionally driven." He emphasised that romance, when executed with depth, can be incredibly powerful and deeply relatable — a quality he found lacking in much mainstream Indian cinema.
The two romantic projects
The first of the two romantic dramas is being helmed by director Sai Marthand, who recently delivered the Telugu blockbuster Litttle Hearts. Sesh declined to reveal plot or co-star details, but stressed that both scripts "approach love and relationships in very different ways." He added: "They're not just love stories, they're about people, vulnerability, and the choices that define us."
Balancing action and romance
Sesh clarified that his romantic turn does not signal a retreat from action cinema. He is currently in post-production on G2, the sequel to his 2015 spy thriller Goodachari, which he described as "very much in that high-octane space." The actor framed his dual pursuits as complementary: "I don't see it as a shift away from action, but rather an expansion of what I want to do."
A decade-long trajectory
Since writing and starring in Kshanam (2015), Sesh has built a niche as a thinking actor's action hero, with critically acclaimed turns in Evaru (2019) and Major (2022). His willingness to explore romantic vulnerability marks a natural evolution for an actor who has repeatedly sought roles that demand emotional specificity alongside physical intensity. Industry observers view the move as a bid to broaden his appeal ahead of potential pan-Indian projects.