Rashmika Mandanna & Shiva Nirvana Launch Anand Deverakonda's Epic Trailer

Coming-of-Age Magic, Overseas Struggles & Soulful Romance: Rashmika Mandanna Cheers as Anand Deverakonda & Vaishnavi Chaitanya Unveil Epic!

Trailer Impressions: Youthful Aspiration Meets Heavyweight Emotion

"My name is Anand… sorry, sorry… Aditya. I want to become a director. There is some magic in cinema. I want to make a good film—our film."

• The Foreign Reality: Departing from glossy NRI depictions, the story explores the gritty, chaotic, and financially strapped realities faced by Indian students studying abroad.
• Raw Generational Conflict: The emotional stakes hit hard during a phone argument between the protagonist and his mother over student loans and monthly EMIs, reflecting the silent sacrifices and resentments brewing in middle-class diaspora households.
• A Mature Look at Breakups: Rather than toxic arguments, the romance between Anand and Vaishnavi’s character, Kadali, explores emotional dignity in relationships: "If we want to break up, should we really do it by throwing blame and insults? Do you know when a relationship truly becomes epic?"

"Anand Works Only for Cinema": Rashmika Mandanna Cheers the Team

*"Anand is someone whose mind never stops thinking about cinema. He genuinely puts his soul and hard work into his craft. I've heard that Vaishnavi’s character, Kadali, will be deeply memorable, and she will earn tremendous love for this film.

Looking at Aditya, I feel so proud—after '#90s', the expectations and responsibilities on him are huge, and he has handled it gracefully. Hesham's music is as soulful as ever. I'll definitely be watching the film along with the team during the September 10 premieres!"*

— Rashmika Mandanna

"Like Combining Ye Maaya Chesave with Premalu" – Anand Deverakonda

• Warm Family Gratitude: "Special thanks to our 'Vadhina' (sister-in-law) Rashmika, who came here to support us. I am truly fortunate to have someone who stands by me like family at every major career step."
• The Soul Behind 'Epic': "We chose the title because real life has epic moments. When you are crumbling through your worst days, and your partner simply walks in, holds you tight, or pecks your forehead—that moment becomes epic. This film is like modern therapy. It carries the poetic emotional depth of 'Ye Maaya Chesave' combined with the refreshing, quirky energy of 'Premalu'."

A Generational Bridge: What the Team Had to Say

• Vaishnavi Chaitanya on Kadali: "Aditya garu is both my favorite director and friend. Portraying Kadali has been a special experience. Working with Anand again has been wonderful—he remains the exact same humble, grounded person he was during 'Baby', genuinely happy whenever the people around him succeed."
• Shivaji on Stepping Beyond Gen-Z Labels: Seasoned actor Shivaji noted: "This isn't merely a Gen-Z romantic drama. Every generation will relate to it. Youngsters navigating survival in foreign universities and their parents back home will see their own lives reflected on screen. The climax delivers an emotional high, and Chapter 2 is going to be on a whole different level."
• Director Aditya Hasan on Navigating Tone: "Some may experience a slight cultural shift seeing this world compared to '#90s', but none of it is added for shock value. The innocence and underlying emotional weight will strike a deep chord."
• Industry Guests Applaud: Directors Shiva Nirvana, Sailesh Kolanu, Vinod Anantoju, Kalyan Shankar, Sai Marthand, and Srinivas Gavireddy lauded Aditya Hasan's sharp observational writing, praising the team for avoiding any repetition of Baby's tropes and creating a fresh cinematic identity.

Technical Craft