Dheeraj Mogilineni Says “Couple Friendly” Is for Youth and Families Alike

Distributor and producer Dheeraj Mogilineni believes that “Couple Friendly” is not just a youth-centric film but a heartfelt romantic drama that family audiences can also enjoy together. Speaking in a recent interview ahead of the film’s Valentine’s Day release, he shared why the movie impressed him and what audiences can expect from this musical love story starring Santosh Soban and Manasa Varanasi.
Presented by UV Creations and produced by UV Concepts in Telugu and Tamil, “Couple Friendly” is directed by Ashwin Chandrasekhar, with Ajay Kumar Raju P. as co-producer. The film is set for a grand theatrical release on February 14 in Telugu and Tamil. Dheeraj Mogilineni is releasing the film across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He revealed that he watched the film about two weeks ago and was instantly convinced about its emotional strength and universal appeal, which prompted him to take up the distribution.
According to Dheeraj Mogilineni, the title “Couple Friendly” might make some people think the film is meant only for youngsters, but that is not the case. The story is rooted in strong family emotions and follows the journey of two characters, Shiva and Mitra. While the film briefly touches upon the concept of live-in relationships for around 15 minutes, the core narrative focuses on how the lives of Shiva and Mitra change after they meet and how they support each other emotionally. The hero moves from Nellore to Chennai to establish himself as an interior designer, while the heroine comes from Chittoor to Chennai in search of a job. Their meeting and the events that follow form the emotional backbone of the film.
He also spoke about a suspense element in the film, where the heroine repeatedly hints that she has something important to tell the hero, which is maintained intentionally to keep audiences engaged. Dheeraj Mogilineni mentioned that the censor board raised objections to the film’s title and suggested changes at a late stage, which the team could not accept. He felt that there should be a system where film titles receive approval at the registration stage itself, so filmmakers do not face such issues close to release. He pointed out that similar objections were raised for other recent films as well.
Praising Santosh Soban’s performance, Dheeraj Mogilineni said the actor has delivered one of his most mature and settled performances as Shiva. He expressed confidence that the film will help Santosh grow further as a hero and bring him a much-needed commercial success. He added that when young actors achieve hits, it opens more opportunities for them and ultimately benefits the film industry as a whole.
The film was shot extensively in Chennai, which the distributor described as a challenging location due to strict permissions, even for local Tamil productions. Despite this, the team managed to complete the shoot using a guerrilla-style approach. Dheeraj Mogilineni noted that the same method had to be adopted for his ongoing project “Chennai Love Story” as well, highlighting the practical difficulties of filming in the city.
Calling “Couple Friendly” a heart-touching romantic film, he said the movie aims to connect emotionally with audiences rather than rely on heavy drama. He praised director Ashwin Chandrasekhar for delivering a well-structured script where each scene flows seamlessly into the next, making the narrative engaging for viewers of all age groups. While he felt that being involved from the start might have helped make the film slightly more intense, he clarified that it is not appropriate for distributors to suggest creative changes after a film is completed, especially when the director, hero, and production house have believed in the story from the beginning.
Addressing the box office competition, Dheeraj Mogilineni acknowledged that “Couple Friendly” is releasing alongside other new films like “Funky” and popular re-releases timed for Valentine’s Day. He said that every film will find its own audience and that re-releases usually work best for major star films, while new releases have their own space when the content connects with viewers. He added that he personally selects films to distribute only when he genuinely likes them, without rushing into projects.
Looking ahead, Dheeraj Mogilineni revealed that the shooting of “Chennai Love Story” is currently in progress. He also confirmed that his banner is producing a new film with Sangeeth Soban as the lead and a children’s film featuring young actors, planned for a summer release. Discussions are also underway with a few star heroes, and one major project under his banner is expected to be announced later this year.
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