With a mind full of dreams and a passion to portray various characters and bring them to life on the screen, actress Maanasa Choudhary is eagerly waiting to prove her mettle in the film industry. Born in Chennai, the artiste began working as a model and went onto bag the title of “Iris Face of Chennai” in 2019. She made her acting debut with the Tamil web-series Emoji and gained recognition with roles in Telugu films like Bubblegum and Lucky Bhaskar. She’s now shooting for the web-series Super Subbu that’s set to release on Netflix. In a candid chat with us, the ambitious and artsy actress gets candid about cinema, her love for art and more…

1. Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I grew up in a home where films were a ritual that brought us closer – all of us would sit down together to watch a movie, talk about it and argue about it. I’d talk films with my brother who was a huge movie buff. Growing up in a Telugu home tucked inside Chennai, I was surrounded by cinema from all sides. That love only deepened when I studied Mass Communication, a space where my interest in films and modeling began to take on a bit of professional sculpting.

Acting, to me, is about living the lives of all the beautiful characters I portray. People, their flaws, their beauty, their chaos – I get to live all of that. Even the few characters I’ve played so far have stayed with me. I adore them – they were envisioned in such a beautiful way, the kind that lingers long after the shoot wraps. I’m excited to take on more diverse and fun roles like the one in Super Subbu. I want to play characters that surprise me, teach me and hopefully leave a little something behind.

2. How did your tryst with films happen?
Right after schooling, I got into modelling which brought me a little exposure in this field. I then developed an interest in acting which led me to learning more about characters and movie making. I also did an acting workshop at Adisakthi in Pondicherry. I’m looking forward to learning more about movies and filmmaking.

3. You’ve acted in Emoji, Bubblegum and Lucky Bhaskar. How has your journey in acting been so far?
I’m truly grateful for the experiences I’ve gained through working in these projects. Each one has helped me grow not just as an actor, but also as a person. I’m constantly trying to improve my skills and give better and honest performances. Working with Ravikanth and Venky garu has been very inspiring – they’re both passionate filmmakers who’ve left their mark in their own unique way.

4. What do you look for when choosing a script?
Honestly, I’m still learning how to choose scripts wisely. But for now, I go by instinct. I look for the impact my character has on the story and that little dopamine hit I get when I start imagining the character while listening to the narrations.

5. Tell us about your web-series Super Subbu.
Super Subbu is a fun drama where Sundeep Kishan garu plays a well-meaning but unlucky teacher who unexpectedly finds himself teaching sex education in a village. I play his love interest. It’s a really fun story with a lot of heart. I think audiences will connect with its blend of humour, awkwardness and chaos. We had such a blast shooting it and I’m genuinely excited for people to see this!

6. How was the experience of working with Dulquer Salman in Lucky Bhaskar?
DQ sir is such a sweet and humble human being and an incredibly talented actor. Even though my part in Lucky Bhaskar was small, working with him was a lovely experience. There’s a calmness and sincerity in the way he approaches his craft and that really stayed with me.

7. Who are the artistes you look upto?
I really look up to Samantha garu and Siva Karthikeyan sir. Their journeys inspire me, especially the way they keep pushing themselves and giving their best no matter what. I’m also a huge fan girl of PSPK sir and Mahesh Babu sir.

8. Any dream filmmakers you want to work with?
SS Rajamouli garu, Trivikram garu, Sukumar garu and Gautham Vasudev Menon garu are few of the many directors I want to work with. Working with all of them would mean everything.

9. What are your other interests apart from acting?
I love redoing my room every now and then (much to my mom’s annoyance). I take my hobbies quite seriously, especially when it comes to creating art. Recently, I made custom keychains for all my friends, spent hours working with resin and even collected little colourful shells from the beach to turn them into something beautiful. I have a very hippie sense of taste, and it naturally spills into my lifestyle. I end up designing or decorating everything around me. It’s something that truly makes me happy.

10. Any dream roles or genres you’re interested in?
I’ve always had a soft spot for anything retro or vintage. There’s just something magical about the vibe of the ’80s and ’90s. But at the same time, some of my favourite films include Ee Nagaraniki Emaindhi, Jil Jung Juk, Goodachari, Padi Padi Lechey Manasu, Ohm Shanthi Oshaana, Dobaaraa, A Suitable Boy, Sanam Teri Kasam, 3 and many more. Basically, if a film has mood, music and a bit of madness, I’m all in. And thanks to my height and my slightly dramatic history with NCC and firearm training, I truly believe I could convincingly play a cop, RAW agent or detective. Just hand me a trench coat and a mysterious past and I’m good to go!