Wamiqa Gabbi and Adivi Sesh in ‘G2’; (right) Mrunal Thakur

Actor Adivi Sesh has wrapped up two upcoming films, Dacoit with Mrunal Thakur, and Goodachari 2 with Wamiqa Gabbi. The two movies may be starkly different, with Dacoit being a romantic action drama, and G2, a spy thriller. But his takeaway from both projects is the same — that his two co-stars have helped him elevate his performances.

The actor shares, “What makes the experience fulfilling is the exchange of ideas and energy that happens between us. We constantly discuss our characters and the emotional motivations behind them.”

Sesh notes that Thakur and Gabbi have different approaches to their craft. What binds them, however, is how giving they are as co-stars.

He elaborates, “Mrunal has this rare ability to listen as an actor. When your co-star gives you something so real, it forces you to elevate your [work]. Wamiqa is unpredictable [as an artiste]. She never repeats a beat, and you have to stay present because you don’t know what she’ll throw at you. That makes the work exciting.”

In February 2024, actor Adivi Sesh announced that Emraan Hashmi was joining his Telugu spy thriller, Goodachari 2. Over a year on, as the two actors have wrapped up the shoot of Vinay Kumar Sirigineedi’s directorial venture, Sesh says sharing screen space with the Bollywood actor — whose hit numbers he would dance to, long before he forayed into films — was a joyous experience.

“I have been a fan of Emraan’s work for [years]. I remember going to the theatre and being captivated by his screen presence, or dancing to his incredible songs, which became party anthems and continue to be played across. [Goodachari 2] is one of those rare instances in life where you get to work with someone you’ve admired. This is a fan living his dream,” he smiles.

Hashmi plays the parallel lead to Sesh’s Agent Gopi 116, a character he is reprising from his 2018 original Goodachari. Considering Sesh has also co-written the film with Sirigineedi, the actor believes that Hashmi complemented the character he had built on paper.

The actor and writer adds, “Emraan brings a lived-in intensity. For the world of Goodachari 2, which is darker than the first film, we needed someone who could [be part of] that space without trying too hard. Emraan fits the bill.”