Saturday, 17 October 2026

Adivi Sesh

Actor • Screenwriter • Director

Adivi Sesh is a Telugu actor, screenwriter and director known for smart, tightly written thrillers. After villain roles in Panjaa and Baahubali: The Beginning, he wrote and starred in the hits Kshanam, Goodachari and Major, earning a reputation as one of Telugu cinema’s most reliable writer-actors.

Raised in California, he brings a global sensibility to his films. In 2026 he released the action romance Dacoit: A Love Story with Mrunal Thakur, and he is working on G2, the sequel to Goodachari.

Profession
Actor, Screenwriter, Director
Known for
Kshanam, Goodachari, Evaru, Major, HIT: The Second Case
Age
40
Date of birth
1985-12-17
Birthplace
Hyderabad, India
Nationality
Indian

Adivi Sesh Quick Facts

Full NameAdivi Sesh
ProfessionActor, Screenwriter, Director
Date of Birth17 December 1985
Age40 years (as of 2026)
BirthplaceHyderabad, India
Raised InBerkeley, California, USA
NationalityIndian
Years Active2002–present
Lead DebutKarma (2010)
BreakthroughKshanam (2016)
Known ForKshanam, Goodachari, Evaru, Major, HIT: The Second Case
EducationBerkeley High School; San Francisco State University

Adivi Sesh Career in Numbers

Here is a quick snapshot of Adivi Sesh’s career.

MilestoneDetails
Films15+
Career Span2002–present
Films He WroteKshanam, Goodachari, Major, Dacoit and more
Signature RoleMajor Sandeep Unnikrishnan in Major

Early Life and Family

Adivi Sesh was born on 17 December 1985 in Hyderabad. He studied at Padma Seshadri school in Chennai as a child before his family moved to the United States, where he grew up in Berkeley, California.

He attended Berkeley High School and studied at San Francisco State University before leaving to pursue films, returning to India to work in Telugu cinema.

Adivi Sesh Career Journey

Early Roles (2002–2015)

Sesh had a small part in Sontham (2002) and made his lead debut with Karma (2010), which he also wrote and directed. He got noticed as the villain Munna in Pawan Kalyan’s Panjaa (2011) and played Bhadra, Bhallaladeva’s son, in Baahubali: The Beginning (2015).

Writer-Actor Hits (2016–2019)

Kshanam (2016), a thriller he co-wrote and starred in, was a sleeper hit and won the Nandi Award for Best Screenplay. Spy thriller Goodachari (2018) and crime thriller Evaru (2019) were also successful.

Major and Beyond (2022–Present)

Major (2022), a biopic of 26/11 hero Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan that he wrote and starred in, was released in Telugu and Hindi to wide acclaim. He also played KD in HIT: The Second Case (2022). Dacoit: A Love Story, co-starring Mrunal Thakur and Anurag Kashyap, released on 10 April 2026. He is now working on G2, the Goodachari sequel.

Adivi Sesh Movies: Complete Filmography

Below is Adivi Sesh’s filmography.

YearFilmRole
2002Sontham (Screen debut)Supporting role
2010Karma (Lead debut; also writer-director)Dev
2011Panjaa (Villain role)Munna
2013BalupuSupporting role
2013Kiss (Also director)Lead
2015Baahubali: The Beginning (Pan-India blockbuster)Bhadra
2016Kshanam (Also writer; Nandi Award for Best Screenplay)Rishi
2017Ami ThumiAnanth
2018Goodachari (Also writer)Gopi / Agent 116
2019Evaru (Crime thriller hit)Vikram Vasudev
2022Major (Also writer; Telugu-Hindi)Maj. Sandeep Unnikrishnan
2022HIT: The Second Case (Crime thriller hit)Krishna Dev ‘KD’
2026Dacoit: A Love Story (With Mrunal Thakur; also co-writer)Lead
UpcomingG2 (Sequel to Goodachari)Gopi / Agent 116

Adivi Sesh Awards and Achievements

YearAwardNote
2016Nandi Award for Best ScreenplayFor Kshanam
2017IIFA Utsavam Award for Best ScreenplayFor Kshanam
2023SIIMA Award for Best Actor (Critics)For Major

Adivi Sesh Personal Life

Adivi Sesh is unmarried and keeps his personal life private. He has spoken about how growing up in the US shaped his storytelling.

He is known for his close involvement in every stage of his films, from writing to editing and promotions.

Adivi Sesh Net Worth

Sesh earns from acting fees, writing credits and profit-sharing on his films.

Estimated Net Worth: Approximately ₹25 crore.

Net worth figures are estimates based on publicly reported information, including entertainment industry reports and media estimates. These are not audited financial statements and may not account for liabilities, family holdings or changes in asset values.

Lesser-Known Facts About Adivi Sesh

  • He grew up in Berkeley, California.
  • He directed his first lead film, Karma, himself.
  • He played Bhallaladeva’s son Bhadra in Baahubali: The Beginning.
  • He wrote the screenplay of Major, the biopic of Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan.
  • Goodachari’s sequel G2 continues his spy franchise.

Legacy and Impact

Adivi Sesh has shown that clever writing can make mid-budget Telugu films travel across India. His thrillers have raised the bar for the genre.

Frequently Asked Questions About Adivi Sesh

How old is Adivi Sesh?

Adivi Sesh was born on 17 December 1985, making him 40 years old as of 2026.

Where did Adivi Sesh grow up?

He grew up in Berkeley, California, in the United States.

Which film made Adivi Sesh famous?

Kshanam (2016) was his breakthrough, followed by Goodachari and Major.

What is Adivi Sesh’s next film?

He is working on G2, the sequel to Goodachari.

What is Adivi Sesh’s net worth?

His net worth is estimated at approximately ₹25 crore, based on publicly reported information.

Final Summary

Writer, actor and occasional director, Adivi Sesh has built a strong brand around intelligent thrillers. G2 promises to take his spy universe further.

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