From Silent Overseas Loneliness to Soulful Conversations: Anand Deverakonda Unpacks the Heart, Insecurities & Relatable Truth of Epic – First Semester!
Carving out a distinct identity through realistic, character-driven films, Anand Deverakonda has consistently steered clear of cookie-cutter heroics. Now, teaming up once again with his Baby co-star Vaishnavi Chaitanya, he is ready to present Epic – First Semester, arriving in cinemas worldwide on September 11, 2026 (with special premieres rolling out across theaters on September 10).
Directed by Aditya Hasan—who captivated Telugu households with the runaway hit web series #90s – A Middle Class Biopic—and backed by Suryadevara Naga Vamsi and Sai Soujanya under Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas (presented by Srikara Studios), the film strips away melodrama in favor of heartfelt, generational reality.
In an open and relaxed media interaction ahead of the theatrical debut, Anand walked through the emotional parallels between his own real-life student days in America and his on-screen character, navigating the live-in relationship premise, and the quiet moral support extended by Rashmika Mandanna.
"Trivikram Garu Was Right: You Don't Need Bloodshed to Tell a Powerful Story"
Reflecting on why he connected so deeply with Aditya Hasan’s script, Anand revisited an insight from Trivikram Srinivas that served as a guiding principle during filming:
*"Trivikram garu once said that an ordinary story should be told with extraordinary emotional strength. You do not need artificial plot twists, high-decibel yelling, or graphic violence to hold an audience captive. 'Epic' is built entirely on that honesty.
It tells the story of an everyday youngster from Wanaparthy who puts his personal ambitions on hold to pursue a degree abroad solely to fulfill his parents' middle-class dreams. Once he lands there, the cultural disorientation, the quiet isolation, and the sudden warmth of falling in love completely reshape his worldview. When they enter a live-in arrangement, it’s not treated as a sensational gimmick; it’s an organic exploration of two vulnerable students surviving in an alien city. Director Aditya has handled it with such dignity that family audiences will never feel uncomfortable."*
— Anand Deverakonda
A Mirror to Every Middle-Class Student Living Abroad
Having lived and studied in the United States before his cinematic journey began, Anand found himself reading his own diary when he first went through the script:
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100% Personal Connection: "The moment Aditya narrated the draft, I told him, 'This is word-for-word what so many of us lived through.' Whether a Telugu student lands in the US, the UK, Australia, or Germany, the foundational struggle is identical: the pressure of heavy educational loans, the silent anxiety of finding a job to support aging parents back home, and the desperate search for emotional warmth."
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The Anatomy of Aditya's Insecurities: "My character Aditya is inherently gentle, but perpetually caught at a crossroads. Should he sacrifice his happiness to remain a dutiful son? Is what he feels for Kadali genuine, lifelong love, or simply situational companionship born out of foreign loneliness? Can he envision a marriage with her? These are raw questions that every 23-to-26-year-old wrestles with."
Moving Beyond the Baby Hangover & The #90s Connection
Addressing the inevitable comparisons with Baby, Anand drew a sharp line between the two creative works:
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A Contrasting Emotional Palette: "If 'Baby' was a chaotic emotional storm that created a cultural sensation, 'Epic' is like a peaceful, reflective journey. The two films share zero common ground in tone, conflict, or resolution. Our pairing might bring people to the box office, but the organic humor of '#90s' and Aditya Hasan’s nuanced writing will keep them invested."
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Not a Direct Sequel: Clarifying the relationship with the director's previous series, Anand explained: "It isn't a literal sequel to '#90s', but it stems from that exact universe. It follows the life of the younger son after he flies out of the family nest to study overseas. The parents appear only where the emotional spine demands it."
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Decoding Kadali: Commending his co-star, Anand noted: "Vaishnavi plays Kadali—a girl who represents thousands of women around us. Just because a girl smiles through her workday doesn't mean life is easy. Behind that bright exterior, Kadali shoulders heavy domestic responsibilities and personal anxieties that will deeply resonate with young women."
Family Warmth and a Packed Career Pipeline
When asked if film discussions dominate family dinner tables with his brother Vijay Deverakonda and sister-in-law Rashmika Mandanna, Anand offered a candid, warm peek into their home dynamic:
"We don't sit around dissecting scripts or box-office figures at home. But when our team was feeling the pressure regarding finalizing our theatrical release window, Rashmika stepped in with immense positivity, stood by me, and provided quiet, grounding reassurance. Having that kind of emotional safety net means everything."
Looking beyond Epic, Anand revealed that his slate is fully loaded:
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Principal photography for his upcoming rustic project Takshakudu is wrapped.
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An ambitious Indo-Korean crossover film has also wrapped filming, gearing up for post-production announcements.
With advance ticket bookings accelerating across the Telugu states and overseas circuits ahead of the September 10 premiere shows, Epic – First Semester promises to deliver an empathetic, emotionally rich mirror to contemporary young lives on September 11, 2026!
