For Manasa Varanasi, who is making her film debut with the divine action-drama Devaki Nandana Vasudeva, the path towards films has been unique, one replete with a blend of familiar and unconventional landmarks. The 27-year-old actor completed her studies in computer science and worked a corporate job for a while before her victory at the Miss India pageant in 2020 shot her to overnight fame, opening up new avenues for her. Recalling the times in Mumbai after the 2020 contest, as she prepared for the Miss World pageant, Manasa says, “Those two years were focused entirely on the competition and the preparation for it. When I finally returned to Hyderabad, I had a lot of questions for myself—whether to return to my corporate job or pursue this opportunity further. Slowly, after a lot of auditions, I developed a passion for cinema and learned about the industry. It was around this time that the Devaki Nandana Vasudeva offer came to me.”
Devaki Nandana Vasudeva, starring Ashok Galla as the male lead, is directed by Arjun Jandhyala. Manasa describes her character Satyabhama as ‘playful, lovable, and mischievous,’ adding, “And yet, if there are any tough times in life, Satyabhama faces them with courage. I relate a lot to it.” Further talking about her debut, the story for which is written by Prasanth Varma, Manasa says, “While I can’t reveal too much about the film or the big twists in the story, there is a big thriller component in the film.”
Prior to beginning working as an actor, Manasa enrolled in a one-week theatre workshop in Pondicherry, introducing herself to the craft and familiarising herself with the many components of acting like breathing, timing, and rhythm. However, Manasa recalls, with great amusement, all the unlearning she had to do while shooting for Devaki Nandana Vasudeva, particularly for the song-and-dance sequences. As someone who learnt Bharatanatyam for eight years while growing up, Manasa talks about the challenges of dancing to a peppy number like 'Bangaram’ composed by Bheems Ceciroleo. She adds, “While dancing since an early age helps you acquire a certain grace, ‘Bangaram’ was complete mass. So my biggest challenge was to unlearn what I acquired and embrace the massiness. We had rehearsals for one week with choreographer Vijay Polaki Gaaru, and it was great fun to break old habits and let all loose.”
Growing up in Malaysia, where she studied till 10th standard, Manasa recalls watching Telugu films on an on-and-off basis. She says, “I remember watching films of stars like Mahesh Babu and Pawan Kalyan. I have distinct memories of watching films like Pokkiri, Malliswari, Jalasa, and Nuvvu Naaku Nachaav in the theatres.” She also recalls watching the Robin Williams starrer Jumanji for over 100 times. At the same time, the debutant admits candidly, “Still, I have probably watched more Telugu movies in the last 1-2 years than all the previous years combined.”
Manasa’s upcoming projects include a film being produced by UV Creations, titled Couple Friendly. Manasa informs that they shot for three months in Chennai for the film. “I had to learn a lot of Tamil for the film. I love the language and would love to do a Tamil film in the near future,” she signs off.