Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has sparked a fresh debate with his comments about fellow director Sekhar Kammula‘s heroes. Speaking at the pre-release event of Epic – First Semester on September 9, Vanga was asked by anchor Suma about a promotional comparison describing the film’s male lead as being like a hero from a Kammula film, while its female lead was compared to a Vanga-style hero. Vanga responded bluntly that he does not like Kammula’s heroes, adding that he prefers the heroines in the filmmaker’s movies.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Straightforward Take
Vanga reportedly reiterated that he was serious about his opinion and said he likes Kammula’s heroines more than his male protagonists. He also said the comparison in Epic made him curious about how the film would present such contrasting characters. The remark quickly went viral on social media, with some viewers treating it as Vanga simply expressing his personal cinematic preference, while others criticised him for commenting on Kammula’s work.
Epic – First Semester, starring Anand Deverakonda and Vaishnavi Chaitanya, is a youth entertainer directed by Aditya Haasan and produced by Sithara Entertainments. The film, which releases tomorrow (September 11), features music by Hesham Abdul Wahab and explores an unconventional love story set in the UK. Vijay Deverakonda and Vanga attended the event as special guests.
Two Very Different Ideas Of Heroism
The controversy has also revived discussion about the contrasting styles of the two filmmakers. Kammula is known for grounded, sensitive and emotionally vulnerable male characters, while Vanga’s protagonists are generally more intense, aggressive and morally complicated. Several social-media users argued that Kammula’s heroes have ranged from political leaders in Leader to college students in Happy Days and ordinary romantic leads in Godavari and Anand, while questioning the similarities between Vanga’s own male protagonists across Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh and Animal.
| Filmmaker | Hero Style | Notable Films | Character Traits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sekhar Kammula | Soft, sensitive, vulnerable | Anand, Godavari, Happy Days, Leader | Emotionally expressive, accommodating, decent |
| Sandeep Reddy Vanga | Intense, aggressive, dominant | Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, Animal | Morally complex, volatile, unapologetic |
For now, however, there is no indication of a personal feud between the two filmmakers. Kammula has not responded to Vanga’s comments, and the debate remains largely a fan-driven discussion about differing approaches to masculinity in Telugu cinema. Vanga is currently working on Spirit with Prabhas, scheduled for release on March 5, 2027.
