Dacoit: A Love Story hit theatres worldwide on 10 April 2026. This Telugu-Hindi bilingual film is an action-packed romantic drama directed by Shaneil Deo in his first full-length feature. It stars Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur in the lead roles, with strong support from Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, and others. The story runs for about 155 minutes and mixes forbidden love, betrayal, revenge, and crime in a fresh, neo-Western style.
The plot follows Hari (played by Adivi Sesh), a man from a humble background who falls deeply in love with Saraswati, also known as Juliet (Mrunal Thakur). Their relationship faces tough challenges because of caste differences and social pressures. A shocking betrayal lands Hari in prison, and when he gets out, he turns to a life of robberies and settling old scores. The film jumps between timelines, showing how personal pain connects with bigger issues like unfair systems, exploitation during tough times, and deep-rooted prejudices. It feels real because it is set in actual places like the Andhra-Karnataka border and Rajasthan deserts instead of fake studio sets.
Adivi Sesh gives a powerful performance as Hari. He shows the character’s pain, anger, and softer side really well, especially through his voice and body language. The first half focuses on the romance and feels natural and heartfelt. Mrunal Thakur is excellent too—she makes Saraswati a complex person you can understand and feel for, even when her choices are difficult. The supporting cast is mostly solid, though a few characters could have used more depth.
Director Shaneil Deo shows real promise. The wide-screen shots look beautiful, switching between vast landscapes and tight, emotional prison scenes. The music and background score add the right tension and old-school romantic feel without being over the top. The action scenes feel raw and believable rather than flashy. That said, the story sometimes feels a bit crowded with too many side plots and twists, especially in the second half. The pacing slows down at times, and some moments feel predictable, which stops the film from reaching its full potential.
Overall, Dacoit: A Love Story has heart. It explores love against tough odds and brings in real social issues without feeling forced. The strong acting and grounded storytelling make it worth watching, even if it doesn’t flow perfectly throughout. It’s best suited for fans of character-driven dramas with action and emotion.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
It’s a solid effort with some standout moments, but it could have been tighter and more focused. Definitely catch it if you enjoy meaningful stories mixed with thrills.