Adivi Sesh reacts to Dacoit Vs Toxic box office clash, says he’s not worried about Yash’s film

November 4, 2025 - 3:41 PM IST

The highly anticipated bilingual action-drama Dacoit, starring Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur, has been making headlines across the country. Originally set for a December 2025 release, the film was delayed after Sesh suffered an injury during filming. It is now scheduled to hit theatres on March 19, 2026. Interestingly, this new date coincides with the release of Kannada superstar Yash’s much-awaited film Toxic, leading to buzz about a major box-office face-off.

Adivi Sesh reacts to Dacoit Vs Toxic box office clash, says he’s not worried about Yash’s film

In a recent interview with a leading media outlet, Adivi Sesh opened up about Dacoit’s delay, the reasoning behind its new release date, and why he isn’t worried about clashing with Yash’s Pan-India project.

Adivi Sesh on Dacoit’s Delay

Speaking about the film’s extended production timeline, Sesh shared, “I’ve always taken my time with films. Earlier, no one noticed, but after Major, people assumed the delay was due to COVID. I usually take about two years to complete a film. This time, my injury caused an additional delay. I couldn’t perform heavy-duty action scenes for two to three months. I’m still recovering but getting better.”

The film, initially planned for a December 25, 2024 release, was postponed following Sesh’s injury. The makers later announced the new date — March 19, 2026, which falls around Gudi Padwa and Eid. Coincidentally, Yash’s Toxic is also slated for release on the same day, sparking widespread talk of a box-office clash.

Sesh on Competing with Yash’s Toxic

When asked about the much-discussed competition, Sesh said, “At the end of the day, two films releasing on the same day can both do well. I still remember Lagaan and Gadar released together — both became classics. The term ‘clash’ is something the media uses, but audiences just want to watch good films. My own film Major released alongside Samrat Prithviraj and still performed well. If a film connects with people, it will find its audience. With Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, and Eid all around that weekend, it’s a great time for cinema and celebration.”

Acknowledging that Toxic is a massive project, Sesh admitted he feels like the underdog in this situation. “When KGF: Chapter 1 released against Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero, it changed the game completely — and KGF was the underdog then. I’m in that position now. My career has always been about surprising people, and I’m happy being in that space,” he said with a smile.

Why March 19 Was the Final Choice

Sesh revealed that the team did briefly consider another release date before settling on March 19. “We did think about moving it, but Dacoit is both a Hindi and Telugu film. We shot every scene in both languages. Ugadi is the Telugu New Year, just like Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, and it’s also a festive time after exams. With Eid falling around the same time, it felt like the perfect moment for a release,” he explained.

A True Bilingual Effort

Talking about the challenges of shooting Dacoit in two languages, Sesh said, “It’s not easy because we wanted each version to feel authentic. The humour, tone, and dialogues were tailored to each language. Some scenes were even rewritten completely to suit the cultural context. It’s been tough but creatively fulfilling.”

Directed by Shaneil Deo, Dacoit also stars Anurag Kashyap and Prakash Raj in pivotal roles alongside Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur. Meanwhile, Toxic, directed by Geetu Mohandas, features Yash with Tovino Thomas, Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, and Huma Qureshi.

Both Dacoit and Toxic are slated to release worldwide on March 19, 2026 — setting the stage for one of the most exciting box-office weekends in recent years.

Also Read: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur starrer Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha to release on Gudi Padwa – Eid weekend