Actor Adivi Sesh chats with Filmfare about his tryst with the film world, a passion he has nurtured since the age of 14. He opens up exclusively about his growing-up years in the United States as a desi kid who loved all things Bollywood while staying connected to his Telugu roots.

Adivi recalls writing his first film script, Goodachari, at just 14, and speaks about his fascination with director Ram Gopal Varma along with other filmmakers who inspired him. He elaborates on how his thriller Kshanam helped him get noticed as a ‘hero’ figure among audiences. He also reveals how a film he invested $200K in was rejected by producers for being “too artsy.” Beyond these milestones, Adivi reflects on often being typecast as a villain, moments when he felt like an outsider, and the fine line he sees between being an actor and being a celebrity.