“Couple Friendly Breaks Love Story Stereotypes,” Says Manasa Varanasi
Starring Santosh Shobhan in the lead role, Couple Friendly features Manasa Varanasi as the female protagonist. Presented by the prestigious UV Creations, the film is being produced on a grand scale in Telugu and Tamil under the UV Concepts banner. Ajay Kumar Raju P serves as the co-producer, while Ashwin Chandrasekhar helms the project.
Touted as a musical romantic love story, Couple Friendly is all set for a Valentine’s Day release on February 14. Passionate producer and distributor Dheeraj Mogilineni is releasing the film across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Ahead of the release, Manasa Varanasi spoke at length about the film, her role, and her journey.
“We’re Excited—This Film Was Made with Passion”
“Couple Friendly is just hours away from release, and we are all extremely excited. We worked on this film for several months and have been eagerly waiting for this moment,” Manasa shared.
After Devaki Nandana Vasudeva, she took a brief break, waiting for the right script. “When I received a call from the UV banner, heard the story, and met the director and team, I could sense their passion. They genuinely wanted to create something magical.”
Mithra—A Character That Feels Real and Relatable
Manasa plays Mithra, a lively, impulsive, and talkative young woman. “She’s full of ideas, acts on her instincts, and comes from a middle-class background. Mithra completes her degree and moves to Chennai in search of a job. She even has a catchy line—‘Chepta Chepta’—which audiences will hear repeatedly in the film,” she smiled.
A Love Story That Breaks the Formula
“Most love stories follow a routine pattern, but Couple Friendly is different,” Manasa explained. “Shiva and Mithra come from completely different worlds, with contrasting goals. Their meeting itself feels rare. The film explores the concept of live-in relationships in a fresh and sensible way. Today’s youth think smartly—they carefully weigh what’s right and wrong before taking decisions, and that mindset is reflected in the story.”
On Working with Santosh Shobhan
“I truly hope this film brings success to both Santosh and me. He’s an amazing co-star—extremely passionate and energetic. We even attended workshops together. When your co-actor gives his best, it naturally pushes you to perform better. He’s also great fun on set, and Mithra’s character will definitely make audiences laugh.”
On the Title Controversy
“I honestly don’t understand why the censor board objected to the title Couple Friendly. The phrase has multiple meanings. If taken positively, it simply means a couple who are friendly with each other. The film isn’t just for youth—it has strong family elements too. It’s designed to connect with everyone.”
Beauty Pageants to Cinema—A Natural Transition
“Not everyone who wins beauty pageants enters films, but pageant training makes us comfortable in front of the camera. That naturally pulls some of us toward cinema,” she said.
While Miss India winners don’t receive prize money, they undergo a year of professional training. “I started getting film offers during my Miss India preparation, but I didn’t understand the industry back then. After Miss World, my interest in films grew stronger. When I decided to act, my family was initially worried—like most middle-class families, they had concerns about safety and trust.”
On Intimate Scenes and Professionalism
“There are a few intimate moments in the film, including two kissing scenes. Initially, I was hesitant,” Manasa admitted. “But the director, DOP, Santosh, and the entire team were extremely professional. They made me feel comfortable and ensured the scenes were poetic, not vulgar. For me, glamour doesn’t mean exposure. After watching the teaser and trailer, my family was uncomfortable at first, but eventually, they understood and supported me.”
A Refreshing Shooting Experience in Chennai
“Shooting in Chennai using guerrilla-style filmmaking was completely new for me. People would walk around normally while we performed, sometimes without realizing a scene was being shot. It felt very refreshing as an actor,” she said.
Though the director is from Tamil Nadu, she praised his command over Telugu. “He wrote dialogues that worked beautifully in both languages. I even tried dubbing in Tamil, but he wasn’t satisfied with my accent. My next film will be in Kollywood. I’m also listening to Telugu scripts and want to choose projects carefully—romantic comedies, feel-good films, thrillers, and stories with meaningful messages.”
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