Three years ago, most people knew Vaishnavi Chaitanya as “that girl from The Software DevLOVEper” on YouTube. Then Baby happened, and she walked away with a Filmfare Critics Award and a SIIMA for Best Female Debut. Now Epic: First Semester has put her back on screen with her Baby co-star Anand Deverakonda, and this time Netflix is carrying her to viewers far beyond the Telugu states.
So who is Kadali, how did a YouTube actor become one of Tollywood’s most talked-about leading ladies, and what’s next? Here’s the full story.
| Vaishnavi Chaitanya | Details |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 January 1994, Hyderabad |
| Profession | Actress (Telugu, one Tamil film) |
| Started on | YouTube short films and web series |
| Breakthrough | Baby (2023) |
| Latest | Epic: First Semester (2026) as Kadali |
| Where to watch Epic | Netflix (from 9 October 2026) |
| Major awards | Filmfare Critics Best Actress – Telugu, SIIMA Best Female Debut – Telugu |
Who is Kadali in Epic: First Semester?
In Aditya Hasan’s Epic: First Semester, Anand Deverakonda plays Aditya, an easygoing middle-class guy who dreams of directing films but gets packed off to London to study by his parents. There he meets Kadali, a strong-willed, independent woman from Vizag. Their personalities could not be more different, and the fun, fights and emotional moments between them are the whole film.
123Telugu said Kadali is unlike anything Vaishnavi has played before and that she brings the conviction the role needs. Asianet’s review called the film a feel-good, emotional love story that Gen Z will connect with, and praised the lead pair even though the second half slows down.
| Epic: First Semester | Details |
|---|---|
| Her character | Kadali, a girl from Vizag studying in London |
| Co-star | Anand Deverakonda as Aditya |
| Director | Aditya Hasan |
| Producers | Suryadevara Naga Vamsi, Sai Soujanya (Sithara Entertainments) |
| Music | Hesham Abdul Wahab |
| Theatrical release | 11 September 2026 |
| Netflix release | 9 October 2026 |
Full streaming details are in our Epic Netflix release guide.
From YouTube to Baby: how Vaishnavi Chaitanya got here
Vaishnavi did not have a film-family launch. She built an audience online first: Love in 143 Hours (2019), the hugely popular The Software DevLOVEper (2020), and the web series Arere Manasa and Missamma (2021). That run even won her a Best Performer (YouTube) award at the Padmamohana TV Awards in 2020.
Alongside, she kept taking small film parts. She debuted in Touch Chesi Chudu (2018) as Ravi Teja’s character’s younger sister, played Sailaja in Allu Arjun’s blockbuster Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), and showed up in Tuck Jagadish and Varudu Kaavalenu (2021). She even made a Tamil debut in Ajith Kumar’s Valimai (2022).
Then came Sai Rajesh’s Baby (2023). As Vaishu, a girl torn between her childhood love and a new world, she carried a messy, layered lead role, and the film became one of the surprise hits of the year. It won her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu, the SIIMA Best Female Debut – Telugu and the Santosham Best Debut Actress award.
Vaishnavi Chaitanya movies list
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Touch Chesi Chudu | Kartikeya’s younger sister |
| 2018 | Ee Maaya Peremito | Alekhya |
| 2020 | Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo | Sailaja |
| 2021 | Rang De | Supporting role |
| 2021 | Tuck Jagadish | Neelaveni |
| 2021 | Varudu Kaavalenu | Bindu |
| 2022 | Valimai (Tamil) | Ramya |
| 2023 | Premadesam | Maya’s sister |
| 2023 | Baby | Vaishnavi “Vaishu” (lead) |
| 2024 | Love Me | Priya |
| 2025 | Jack | Afshaana / Bhanumati |
| 2026 | Epic: First Semester | Kadali (lead) |
Why Vaishnavi and Anand Deverakonda keep working together
Epic is their second film as a lead pair after Baby,, and the reunion was a big part of the film’s pre-release buzz. The two play very different people this time. In Baby she was the one pulling away; in Epic, Kadali is the confident one and Aditya is the softie, which is exactly the contrast reviewers enjoyed.
Is there an Epic sequel? What’s next for Vaishnavi
The “First Semester” tag makes it pretty clear the makers see this as part one, and the story is billed as “an unfinished story”, but no sequel has been officially announced or dated. For now, Kadali’s story continues only in fans’ theories. We’ll update this page as soon as a second part or her next film is confirmed.
Vaishnavi Chaitanya FAQs
Who plays Kadali in Epic: First Semester?
Vaishnavi Chaitanya plays Kadali, a strong-willed girl from Vizag whom Anand Deverakonda’s Aditya meets in London.
Where can I watch Epic: First Semester?
It streams on Netflix from 9 October 2026, after its theatrical release on 11 September 2026.
What is Vaishnavi Chaitanya’s age?
She was born on 4 January 1994, so she is 32 years old in 2026.
Which movie made Vaishnavi Chaitanya famous?
Baby (2023), which won her the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actress – Telugu and the SIIMA award for Best Female Debut – Telugu.
Was Vaishnavi Chaitanya a YouTuber?
Yes. She became popular through YouTube short films and series such as The Software DevLOVEper before moving into lead film roles.
Is there an Epic Part 2?
Not officially. The title suggests more semesters, but no sequel has been announced yet.
🎬 Watch the official Epic: First Semester trailer on YouTube
