Latest news with #LakshmiManchu
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
After The Traitors, Lakshmi Manchu seeks solace in a secret temple city in Italy
A few months after wrapping up her stint on the reality show The Traitors , escaped into the quiet of the Italian mountains, seeking a spiritual reset in a place she had been trying to visit for over eight years — Damanhur . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She shares, 'For years, I had been hearing whispers about this sacred land tucked away in northern Italy — a spiritual community, a temple city built underground in complete secrecy. Every time I tried to go, something would happen, plans would fall apart. But this year, my heart said, 'Now or never.' I made a sankalpam that nothing would stop me from visiting. And nothing did.' An Italian friend picked her up from Torino airport. She shares, 'In just 30 minutes, I was in this enchanted village, surrounded by ancient mountains and forests. It felt like nature was breathing with me,' she says. Ironically, the friend who first introduced her to Damanhur had to leave the day she arrived. 'Coincidence? I don't believe in that. Just God's timing.' Lakshmi Manchu in Italy Despite the language barrier, she felt grounded. 'My Italian is patchy, and very few people there speak English. But I had trust. I knew this journey would unfold the way it was meant to,' she says. The following day, she stepped into the famed Temples of Humanity . She shares, 'It's hard to explain. This isn't just a place — it's a calling. Something ancient inside you stirs. It feels like coming home. The temple was built entirely by hand, a vision brought to life by a man named Falco. To me, he is no less than a saint.' What moved her most was the spiritual inclusiveness. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She shares, 'There were references to Indian deities alongside symbols from other cultures. It felt like every belief system flowed together in harmony. All honoured, none diminished.' Lakshmi Manchu in Italy On the professional front, Lakshmi has intentionally avoided speaking about The Traitors. 'I haven't really spoken about it because it gave me PTSD,' she reveals, adding, 'I don't know how people keep doing reality TV. Even pros like Raftaar, Jasmine Bhasin and Karan Kundrra — they've done several shows, and still found this one hard. And it was my first.' She continues, 'I'm so grateful I left when I did. Just those two days affected me so deeply, I had to go to therapy three times a week for a while. And as a producer, I started questioning why this kind of content is being made and consumed. Yes, it's exciting for the viewer, but for the people involved — is it really worth it?' As she eases back into life post-show, Lakshmi holds on to the stillness Damanhur gave her. 'I know now that I will return. I must. Not just for myself, but for the greater mission being built there — one that belongs to all of us,' she concludes.
India Today
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Lakshmi Manchu says art and politics should be kept separate amid Sardaar Ji 3 row
Actor Lakshmi Manchu recently voiced her opposition to the backlash on the casting of Pakistani actors in Indian cinema and emphasised that art should not be entangled with politics. This comes amid backlash over two recent Bollywood films, including 'Abir Gulaal' and 'Sardaar Ji 3.'In a conversation with Hindustan Times, the actor was asked about her opinion on calls to ban such films released in India. She replied, 'Don't politicise art. Go after the people who are causing the trouble. You can't just throw a blanket ban on everybody and say no (you can't work with them). Where is our growth? Where is our warmth? As Indians, we welcomed all these people with open hearts.'advertisementCurrently, Diljit Dosanjh's film is under fire for sharing the screen with Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. Earlier, in March, Vaani Kapoor was under fire for featuring alongside Fawad Khan in 'Abir Gulaal'. Manchu further added, 'Where are our hearts now? Politics is one way, but why are cattle herding and blanketing? Why are they going after an actor? What threat are they to India, and banning their Instagram? Like how insecure are you? Rather than a divide and rule policy, we need to find ways around how we can find common ground and fight together against the common enemy.'Meanwhile, the actor recently featured in Prime Video's latest reality show, 'The Traitors' which is hosted by Karan Johar.- EndsMust Watch
Pink Villa
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Who is Lakshmi Manchu? All about The Traitors contestant who comes from rich film family, is married and has daughter via surrogacy
The Traitors, led by filmmaker Karan Johar, is about to hit screens. This reality show will unveil the unfiltered faces of the celebrity contestants, promising to unveil celebrities as they engage in a thrilling hunt to identify the Traitor among them. Among all the celeb contestants is the talented actor and producer Lakshmi Manchu. With a contribution to the entertainment industry that began at the tender age of 4, she has carved out a remarkable niche for herself within the Telugu cinema landscape. Who is Lakshmi Manchu? Born on October 8, 1977, in Chennai, Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna, popularly known as Lakshmi Manchu, is a celebrated actress in the Telugu film industry. She is the only daughter of renowned actor Mohan Babu and Vidya Devi. Lakshmi forayed into the world of entertainment with a show named Las Vegas, where she had the unique opportunity to collaborate with the Oscar-winning actor James Caan, playing the memorable character of Sarasvati Kumar. In December 2011, she made her foray into Tamil cinema, starring in Mani Ratnam's film Kadal as Celina. Beyond acting, Lakshmi took on the role of director in 2020 with her short film Perfect Lives, showcasing her versatility and creative vision. Lakshmi holds a Bachelor's degree in theatre from the prestigious Oklahoma City University. Throughout the years, she has acted in numerous films and produced a variety of successful projects, garnering multiple accolades. Lakshmi has also made her mark as a host on popular shows such as Feet Up with Stars and Chef Mantra. Apart from her professional endeavors, Lakshmi is involved in various social causes In 2006, she married Andy Srinivasan, an IT professional from Chennai. Together, they have a beautiful daughter born through surrogacy and currently reside in Mumbai. As Lakshmi Manchu gears up to compete in The Traitors, she is set to join an impressive lineup of celebrity co-contestants. The Traitors contestants are: Karan Kundrra, Anshula Kapoor, Ashish Vidyarthi, Elnaaz Norouzi, Harsh Gujral, Jannat Zubair, Janvee Gaurr, Apoorva Mukhija aka The Rebel Kid, Jasmine Bhasin, Lakshmi Manchu, Maheep Kapoor, Mukesh Chhabra, Nikita Luther, Purav Jha, Raftaar, Uorfi Javed, Raj Kundra, Sahil Salathia, Sudhanshu Pandey and Sufi Motiwala. The Traitors will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 12, with new episodes airing every Thursday at 8 PM.
New Indian Express
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Lakshmi Manchu gets real
Known for her warm presence, infectious laughter, and ability to light up any room, Lakshmi Manchu is undoubtedly one of Hyderabad's most charming personalities. Whether it's her versatile performances across films and web series or her philanthropic efforts, Lakshmi has carved a niche for herself. Now, she's stepping into a whole new arena, reality television with the much-anticipated show The Traitors, hosted by Karan Johar. CE caught up with her to talk about her experience, what sets this show apart, and what fans can expect. Excerpts Tell us about the new show The Traitors. I can confidently say that The Traitors is going to be one of the biggest reality shows India has ever seen. It's the result of a powerful collaboration between BBC and Amazon, and I know how hard they worked to bring this format to India. It has been a top-rated show in every country it's aired in, and that got me really excited. I've always wanted to do something new, something that hasn't been done before. This show came at the perfect time, just after I moved to Mumbai. It felt like the Universe aligning! That thrill of venturing into the unknown is what made me say yes. How did you get selected for the show? I didn't do anything! It was all Amazon. They really went the extra mile to get the kind of talent they wanted. If you look at the entire lineup, it's an incredible ensemble. All the credit goes to Neha from Amazon for putting together such a dynamic cast.
Scroll.in
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Watch: Karan Johar hosts celebrity reality show in which players must betray each other to survive
Streaming 'The Traitors' will be out on Prime Video on June 12. The guests include Uorfi Javed, Lakshmi Manchu, Raftaar, Anshula Kapoor, Raj Kundra and Maheep Kapoor.
