Epic First Semester opens to mixed reviews and modest box office

The Telugu romantic drama ‘Epic – First Semester’, starring Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, released on September 11, 2026, to mixed critical reviews. Directed by Aditya Haasan, the film follows Aditya, a middle-class aspiring director sent to the UK by his parents, and his complex relationship with a fellow student, Kadali.

Critics have offered divided opinions, with some praising the film's emotional depth and youthful elements, while others criticized the narrative as tedious, monotonous, and lacking sufficient drama in its second half. Some reviewers noted that the film’s attempt at naturalism resulted in long, uninteresting sequences.

At the box office, the film saw a below-average opening. The first-day worldwide gross is expected to reach approximately ₹4 Cr, with an all-India gross of ₹2.22 Cr. To reach its break-even target of ₹25 Cr, the film will require a strong performance over the upcoming weekend.