Adivi Sesh has been having a good run with four consecutive hits, Kshanam, Oopiri, Ami Thumi and Evaru. And up next for the Evaru star is a true-life soldier’s tale Major, in which he plays the national hero Sandeep Unni Krishnan who was martyred during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
To play the martyred hero, Adivi would have to get into a strict military-like regimen. “I have to look extremely fit and slim. I am going to lose 10 kg in the next three months before we start shooting for Major. A strict diet plan has been worked out, and I intend to follow it faithfully. Luckily, I don’t have to avoid my mom’s food because she lives in California.”
New routines and regimens aside, Adivi appears only too happy to take on the challenge. “I’ve to look and think like a true soldier. I don’t want to fake it,” he says.
Remembering a martyr
Major is a departure from all the characters Adivi has played so far. “After Evaru, I wanted to do something in a different genre. In the last two years, I’ve done suspense genre twice, in Kshanam and Evaru.”
Clearly, Adivi, who says he grew up wanting to play a soldier, sees playing the Ashoka Chakra winner as a huge responsibility. “This is my first real-life character. And I’m finally getting to play the role of a soldier. But to be playing a man so heroic, courageous and iconic, to me, is the greatest privilege an actor can get. I am going to give this role all the love and respect it deserves,” says Adivi.
Living his dream
But Adivi’s excitement is double fold. Besides playing a real-life hero, he would get to work with one of his idols, Mahesh Babu, who is set to produce Major. Mahesh, who says Adivi Sesh has been travelling with this story for a long time, believes the actor fits the bill perfectly.
And Adivi can’t stop feeling privileged. “I’ve always been a big fan of Mahesh Babu and to now have him produce a film where I play this distinguished soldier is like a dream come true. The best thing about being an actor is that you get to play out all your fantasies,” says the actor as he signs off.
