Manasa Varanasi: Couple Friendly will appeal to Youth and families
Santosh Soban and Manasa Varanasi starrer “Couple Friendly” is all set for a Valentine’s Day release on February 14 in Telugu and Tamil. Backed by UV Creations and produced under the UV Concepts banner, the musical romantic entertainer is directed by Ashwin Chandrasekhar. With just hours left for release, leading lady Manasa Varanasi exudes confidence.
“We’ve created magic with Couple Friendly. We worked on this film for several months, and we’re excited that it’s finally reaching audiences,” she said in a recent interaction. After “Devaki Nandana Vasudeva”, Manasa took a brief break, waiting for the right project. When UV Creations approached her with the script, she auditioned and was instantly drawn to the team’s passion.
A fresh take on romance
In the film, Manasa plays Mithra: a fun-loving, impulsive, talkative middle-class girl who moves to Chennai in search of a job. Her quirky catchphrase “Chepta Chepta” is expected to become a highlight.
Unlike routine love stories, “Couple Friendly” explores romance in a contemporary setting. Shiva and Mithra come from different backgrounds and life goals. Their meeting itself is unusual, and the story explores the idea of modern relationships in a refreshing way.
“Today’s youth think practically. They weigh right and wrong before taking decisions. Our film reflects that mindset,” she said.
On Santosh Soban and workshops
Manasa praised Santosh Soban, calling him a dedicated and energetic co-star. The team even conducted workshops before the shoot.
“When your co-star performs with sincerity, it pushes you to give your best. Santosh is very passionate and fun on set. Mithra’s character will definitely make audiences laugh,” she added.
On intimate scenes
Manasa also addressed the discussion around the title “Couple Friendly” and the intimate scenes in the film.
“I don’t understand why there was an objection to the title. If taken positively, it simply means a couple who are friendly with each other. The film is not just for youth. Families will also connect with it,” she clarified.
Regarding the romantic scenes, she admitted she was initially hesitant. “I was informed about two kissing scenes during narration. I had doubts at first. But the director, DOP, Santosh, and the team were very professional. The scenes were shot beautifully and poetically, not in a vulgar way. Glamour doesn’t mean skin exposure,” she explained.
She also revealed that her family was initially uncomfortable after watching the teaser and trailer but gradually understood her perspective and extended their support.
From Miss India to movies
Speaking about her journey, Manasa said beauty pageants gave her camera confidence. While Miss India winners do not receive prize money, they are trained in grooming, fitness, and performance.
“I began getting film offers during my pageant days. After Miss World, my interest in cinema grew stronger. My family was worried initially, as middle-class families often fear the unknown. But they stood by me,” she said.
Shooting experience and next films
The film was shot in Chennai using guerrilla-style filmmaking, with scenes captured amid real public settings. “It was refreshing. Sometimes people around us didn’t even realize we were shooting,” she revealed.
Looking ahead, Manasa Varanasi is listening to Telugu scripts carefully and is also set to do a Tamil project. She expressed interest in youthful entertainers with meaningful messages, thrillers, detective stories, romantic comedies, and feel-good films.