Watching Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha, you realise soon that this is not the usual love story the title suggests. The film starts like a romantic drama but soon tries to turn into something darker and more intense. The idea sounds interesting, but the execution does not really match up.
Even the title itself feels forced and confused. The combination of a heavy English word like “Dacoit” with a very clichéd Hindi extension “Ek Prem Katha” sounds mismatched from the start, almost as if it is trying too hard to sound grand and emotional. It gives the impression of a love story that will stay with you long after the film ends, but honestly, neither the love nor the dacoit angle leaves any lasting impact. It feels like the word “dacoit” has been picked simply because the makers could not clearly define the genre, or worse, it has been pushed into the film just to justify the title.
At the centre is Adivi Sesh, an actor known for choosing strong and well-written films. That is why this one feels disappointing. He not only plays the lead but has also co-written the film, which makes the weak writing even more surprising. His character, Hari, goes from being a man in love to becoming an outlaw, but this transformation does not feel convincing because the story does not build it properly.
Mrunal Thakur plays the female lead, Saraswati aka Juliet, who is supposed to be the emotional core of the story and the reason behind everything that happens. There was a lot of talk about her role being different from her earlier work. While it may be different on paper, on screen it feels underdeveloped and does not do justice to her talent.
The story is about love, betrayal, and revenge, but the way it unfolds feels very familiar. The twists and flashbacks add characters out of nowhere and do not create much impact. Instead of making you feel the emotions, the film often feels flat and routine.
Debut director Shaneil Deo tries to mix romance with action and revenge, but the film does not flow smoothly. At many places, scenes that are meant to feel serious or intense end up looking exaggerated or even unintentionally funny.
One of the strangest parts of the film is how a hospital is portrayed. Instead of treating it like a hospital, it looks more like a place run by goons, with staff behaving like bouncers. This kind of treatment takes you out of the film and makes it hard to take the story seriously.
The supporting cast, including Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, and Atul Kulkarni, try their best, but the weak writing does not give them much to work with. Anurag Kashyap especially seems to put in effort as a cop, but even that cannot lift the character.
The action scenes, which should have been a highlight, feel poorly done. They look disconnected and lack polish, making them feel more tacky than exciting.
The film tries to move from a love story to a revenge drama and then into a crime film, but it never fully succeeds in any of these. It keeps shifting but does not leave a strong impact in any direction.
In the end, Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha tries to show how love can turn into something dangerous after betrayal. But because of weak writing, shallow characters, and uneven execution, it ends up feeling like a missed opportunity rather than a powerful story.
Movie: Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha
Director: Shaneil Deo
Featuring: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, Anurag Kashyap, Prakash Raj, Atul Kulkarni, Zayn Marie Khan, Kamakshi Bhaskarla
Languages: Hindi & Telugu (shot bilingually)
Run Time: 2hrs 32mins
Theatrical Release Date: April 10, 2026
