Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor has recently made her OTT debut with YRF's new series 'Mandala Murders' which premiered on Netflix last week. The actress, who is seen as the fittest in the industry, is seen playing the role of a tough CIB officer Rea Thomas.
After years of playing romantic heroines in glossy Bollywood films, Vaani is winning praise for her layered, understated performance in Mandala Murders. The gritty thriller on OTT is a departure from her usual big-screen image the actress has and she admits the process wasn’t easy.
In an exclusive conversation with Moneycontrol, we asked her about the reason for picking up such a role, to this she says: "This was very different from anything I’ve tried before. Rea was someone who couldn’t be read easily, aloof, trauma-stricken, a complete observer. Most of the emotion had to come through her eyes without high-pitched dialogues or dramatic gestures. It was emotionally and mentally taxing, but that challenge fascinated me.”
Breaking Out of the Comfort Zone
In Mandala Murders, Vaani’s Rea Thomas is a fish out of water, a cop carrying the burden of PTSD who must navigate a dangerous world. Across eight episodes, she balances the role’s physical demands with emotional restraint.
“The consistency was the toughest part. You can’t step out of the character’s design. Action sequences, physical training, and the mental weight of trauma, it all pushed me out of my comfort zone," she explains.
When asked if OTT gives actors the gift of time and perform more layered and multi dimensional roles.
"Unlike a two-hour film, a series lets you explore layers and nuances. Every character can have an arc. I could live in Rea’s world long enough for the audience to truly see her pain," she said.
From Romantic Heroine to Action and Thrillers
For audiences used to seeing Vaani in love stories and dance numbers, Mandala Murders is a revelation. She made her big screen debut with Yash Raj Films’ Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) alongside Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra. She earned praise for her easy screen presence.
Her filmography leaned heavily into romance and glamour - Befikre with Ranveer Singh, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui with Ayushmann Khurrana, and the mega-blockbuster War alongside Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, where she also dabbled in action.
“I genuinely enjoy slice-of-life romances and love stories that feel larger than life. But I’ve always wanted to explore more, to show variations in my body of work," she added.
Her Struggle Years and Practical Mindset
It’s easy to forget that behind the red carpets and magazine covers lies a story of quiet grit. Vaani recalls her early days in Mumbai vividly. Vaani admits she is an introvert and it took her time to adjust to the glitzy Bollywood life and also adapt to its ways after her shift from Delhi to Mumbai.
“I moved from Delhi to Bombay without knowing a soul. No family, no friends, no projects in hand. I told myself I would give this dream one or two years. If it didn’t work, I’d move on. I’ve always felt responsible for myself and my family. I didn’t want to struggle endlessly without direction," she says firmly.
The unpredictability, the isolation, and the self-doubt were constant companions. “I’m an introvert. I would sit alone and wonder, Do I even belong here? But I had self-belief. That’s what kept me going. I never take any opportunity lightly, I surrender to it a hundred percent.”
Learning from Co-Actors and Evolving
Over the years, Vaani has worked with some of Bollywood’s most bankable stars - Ranveer Singh, Hrithik Roshan, and Ayushmann Khurrana among them.
“Acting is never a solo job. You feed off your co-actor’s energy. A good co-actor can elevate a scene and make you better. I’ve learned so much just by observing and reacting. Those experiences have shaped me as an actor," she says.
OTT vs Bollywood: Freedom to Take Risks
Vaani agrees that OTT has opened up new opportunities for actors like her.
“You can take risks on OTT because there’s no Friday box-office pressure. Of course, there are reviews and ratings, but you’re not carrying the same commercial burden. More content is being made, more stories are being told, and every actor gets a chance to explore something new," she says.
Vaani says she wants to continue balancing all genres - romance, thrillers, action, and slice-of-life stories.
“Every genre has its own magic. But stories that evoke emotion where audiences can surrender and feel with the characters will always be my favourite.”
A part of review for Mandala Murders from Moneycontrol read, "The first couple of episodes are fast-paced, loaded with information, and introduce a large ensemble of characters, each carrying a piece of the larger puzzle. The language and setting feel rooted—the mix of Hindi and Bhojpuri adds a nice layer of realism. There’s warmth in how it captures friendships and community ties, especially those between childhood friends who have moved away but return to their hometown with shared history."
Vaani made her debut with Shuddh Desi Romance (2013), which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut. Next she was seen in big ticket films like Befikre, War, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui and Bell Bottom opposite big names of Bollywood.
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