Biography:Manasa Varanasi is an Indian actress, model, and beauty pageant titleholder who works predominantly in Telugu cinema. Born on March 21, 1997, in Hyderabad, Telangana, to Ravi Shankar and Shailaja, she spent a part of her early childhood in Malaysia due to her father's work, completing her 10th grade at the Global Indian International School in Kuala Lumpur. After returning to India, she earned a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the Vasavi College of Engineering in Hyderabad. Prior to entering the world of glamour and entertainment, she worked as a Financial Information Exchange analyst at FactSet in Hyderabad.
Varanasi rose to national prominence in the pageant circuit while simultaneously managing her corporate career. After winning the Miss Telangana title in 2020, she went on to be crowned Femina Miss India World 2020. This victory earned her the right to represent India at the prestigious 70th Miss World 2021 pageant held in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where she secured a spot as a Top 13 finalist globally. During her pageant tenure, her "Beauty with a Purpose" project focused strongly on child protection, advocating for stronger laws against child sexual abuse through her "We Can" campaign in partnership with the 1098 childcare helpline.
Following her successful pageant career, Varanasi transitioned into the mainstream film industry. She made her feature film acting debut in Telugu cinema, portraying the leading role of Satyabhama in *Devaki Nandana Vasudeva* (2024). She subsequently starred opposite Santosh Sobhan in the romantic drama *Couple Friendly* (2026), playing the role of Mithra, a struggling software engineer in Chennai. Beyond her on-screen and runway endeavors, Varanasi is formally trained in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, and actively promotes inclusivity for the deaf community by utilizing and teaching Indian sign language.
