In this candid interview, actress Manasa Varanasi opens up about Couple Friendly's take on modern companionship, her professional chemistry with co-star Santosh Shoban, and why the film’s 'A' rating shouldn't deter family audiences. She reflects on her transition from pageantry to acting, the protective nature of her middle-class roots, and why she believes the innocence of a first crush is a treasure worth guarding forever.
Couple Friendly hits the cinemas on February 14. Early paid premieres are being planned on the evening of February 13.
The director and his team are extremely passionate, something I could sense after the first narration he gave me. Couple Friendly sets out to generate magic. Mithra (my name in the film) is talkative and light-hearted. While brimming with fresh ideas, she is also impulsive. She moves to Chennai after her graduation. As someone hailing from a middle-class family, she is relatable. Mithra crosses paths with Shiva (Santosh Shoban's name) in a realistic yet rare way.
The concept of live-in relationships has been explored in a refreshing way by our movie. We have to trust today's generation to make mature decisions for themselves.
Santosh is a superb co-star. I have known him since the time we participated in acting workshops together. His passion, energy and dedication had a positive influence on my performance. The nature of romance is poetic and tasteful.
The 'A' rating is only because of the title. Otherwise, our film has elements that will appeal to family audiences too. It is designed to connect with everyone. Aside from two kissing scenes, the degree of physical intimacy in our film doesn't go beyond. I overcame my initial hesitancy to do those scenes after I was assured of the professional environment. None of the intimate shots were filmed to evoke cheap reactions. Since my co-star has been friendly, it was easy to do those scenes professionally.
Speaking of love, the cute, innocent relationships we have in school are often the best. Ideally, the kind of innocence we possessed at the age of our first crush should stay with us for the rest of our lives. We should always nurture our inner child and continue to protect the people we love. After all, the older we get, the harder our outer shells tend to become.
Back in my school days, I had a crush who loved to read. We used to read novels like the Harry Potter series. I still cherish the memory of how our fingers would brush against each other whenever we exchanged books!
My definition of glamour is something that doesn't equal skin show. It's because Couple Friendly understands this concept that the romance depicted in it didn't make my family uncomfortable. Their support is total now. Coming from a middle-class background, my family’s reaction was one of genuine concern when I wanted to step into the world of modelling and acting. In our world, there is a deep-seated apprehension about the film industry.
While many assume beauty pageants are a direct conveyor belt to the film industry, that isn’t always the case; many winners pursue entirely different paths. That said, the pageant circuit is a masterclass in camera confidence, which makes a transition into acting feel like a natural next step. Interestingly, Miss India winners don’t walk away with a cash prize. Professional grooming in the form of access to top-tier gym training, hairstyling, and dance choreography is the edge we have.
I began receiving film offers while I was still training for Miss India, though I didn't quite grasp the magnitude of it back then. I naively assumed these opportunities were just a standard byproduct of the pageant world. It wasn't until I returned from Miss World that my interest truly increased. I shifted my focus toward auditions and script readings, but that decision came with its own set of challenges at home.
My next outing will be in Tamil, a move I am incredibly excited about. Simultaneously, I am actively exploring Telugu scripts.
