Couple Friendly Will Connect with Youth and Families Alike – Manasa Varanasi
On the film’s release buzz
The film is just hours away from release, and all of us are thrilled. We worked on Couple Friendly for several months, so seeing it finally reach audiences is very special. After Devaki Nandana Vasudeva, I took a short break, waiting for the right script. When the team from UV approached me, I listened to the story, gave an audition, and met the director. Their passion convinced me that they truly wanted to create something magical.
About her role Mithra
I play Mithra, a lively, impulsive, and extremely talkative girl. She comes from a middle-class background, completes her degree, and moves to Chennai in search of a job. Mithra always acts on instinct and keeps coming up with new ideas. She even has a quirky catchphrase, ‘Chepta Chepta,’ which repeats throughout the film and adds to the fun.
What makes Couple Friendly different
Most love stories follow a predictable path, but this film is very different. Shiva and Mithra come from entirely different worlds, with distinct mindsets and goals. They move to Chennai from different towns, and even their meeting feels rare and organic. The film explores the concept of living together in a fresh and sensible way. Today’s youth think carefully before making decisions, and the film reflects that maturity.
Working with Santosh Soban
I truly hope this film brings success to both Santosh and me. He is an amazing co-actor and very passionate about cinema. We even did workshops together, which helped us understand our characters better. His energy on set was infectious, and he is also a lot of fun. The film has many entertaining moments, 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 can be interpreted in many positive ways. To me, it simply means a couple who share comfort and understanding. The film is not just for youngsters; it also has strong family-friendly elements and emotions that everyone can relate to.
From beauty pageants to cinema
Not everyone who wins a beauty pageant chooses films as a career, but the process of pageants makes you comfortable in front of the camera. During my Miss India journey, we didn’t receive prize money, but we were given professional training in fitness, grooming, dance, and more. I started getting film offers around that time, but I didn’t take them seriously then. After returning from Miss World, my interest in cinema grew stronger. When I decided to enter films, my family was naturally worried, especially coming from a middle-class background. There is always concern about trust and safety, and my family felt the same.
Handling intimate scenes with confidence
There are a couple of intimate moments in the film, including kissing scenes. Initially, I was hesitant, but the director, DOP, Santosh, and the entire team were extremely professional and transparent. They made sure I was comfortable at every step. The scenes are shot poetically and aesthetically, not vulgarly. I strongly believe glamour doesn’t mean exposure. After the teaser and trailer were released, my family had questions and concerns, but eventually they understood the context and supported me.
Shooting experience and future plans
Shooting in Chennai using guerrilla-style filmmaking was a completely new experience. We performed scenes amid real crowds, sometimes without people even realizing a film was being shot. It felt very natural and refreshing. Though our director is from Tamil Nadu, he understands Telugu well and wrote dialogues that worked beautifully in both languages. I even attempted Tamil dubbing, but the director felt my accent needed more work. My next project will be in Kollywood. I’m also listening to Telugu scripts and want to choose projects carefully. I’m interested in youthful entertainers with meaningful messages, along with thrillers, mysteries, romantic comedies, and feel-good films.
With Couple Friendly poised as a Valentine’s Day release, Manasa Varanasi hopes the film’s freshness, emotions, and relatability will strike a chord with audiences across generations.
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