In EPIC - First Semester, Anand Deverakonda plays Aditya, a young man constantly torn between his own dreams, his parents' expectations, and his feelings for the girl he loves. As he wrestles with whether she is the one he can spend his life with, every scene and dialogue reflects the audience's own emotional struggles.
Ahead of the movie's grand theatrical release on September 11, the actor talks about the rom-com's highlights. Elsewhere, the team has highlighted that Epic's ending might feel unfinished and that's deliberate.
While the narrative of Epic centers on a modern live-in dynamic, director Aditya Hasan has handled the subject with tact and sensitivity. The viewer can expect engaging experience. The family audience will find many aspects relatable.
Trivikram Srinivas garu once remarked that even an ordinary story can become extraordinary when told with conviction, without relying on wild twists or violence. Epic is like that in terms of following an ordinary young man from Wanaparthy who sets aside his personal passion and moves abroad to support his parents. Once overseas, his outlook on life undergoes a profound shift. The story explores his journey as he falls in love and journeys through a live-in relationship, capturing these milestones with natural grace and emotional honesty.
Epic is a conversational love story. Aditya is figuring out how to deal with his girlfriend. It's not a one-liner comedy. It's emotional in nature. It's a blend of Ye Maya Chesave and Premalu, I could say.
Epic is a relatable reflection of real life that resonates across generations, from the ’80s to the 2000s. The film captures the middle-class experience and the universal journey of living away from home. It narrates career aspirations, romantic bonds, and family obligations.
Epic felt deeply personal. Having studied in the US, I saw so much of my own journey reflected in the script. Countless young people leave their families for countries like the US, UK, Australia, or Germany, driven by the desire to build a better future and relieve financial pressure back home. Regardless of where they are in the world, students and young professionals who have stepped out of their comfort zone to pursue a life abroad will feel a strong, emotional connection to this film.
While reuniting with Vaishnavi Chaitanya naturally brings Baby to mind, Epic is a completely different experience. The film emerges from the beloved world of the 90s web series, though it is not a sequel. It focuses on the younger son, Aditya, going abroad for his education, keeping the parents' roles as integral as the narrative demands.
The conversations flow freely in the film. My acting tempo is attuned to that nature. Epic has a complex relationship angle to it. One is soft, the other one is bold. One is clear-minded, the other one is confused. Aditya asked me to just be myself. He didn't ask me to imitate anybody. I never felt I was performing. Nothing felt rehearsed.
Rashmika Mandanna and I don’t really discuss films much. However, when we were a little tense about deciding the release date for Epic, she supported me mentally and stood by me.
(Anand will next be seen in Netflix's Takshakudu, which is directed by Vinod Anantoju. He plays a blind protagonist in it. He is also starring in a Godavari-set drama featuring a South Korean actress as the female lead, alongside potential projects with director duo Sujith-Sandeep of KA fame and Sai Kiran of Masooda fame).
