After a strong start to 2025 with her theatrical hit Raid 2, Vaani Kapoor is embracing a new chapter in her acting career — her OTT debut with the gripping crime drama Mandala Murders. Known for her glamorous roles and sharp screen presence, Vaani now steps into a far more intense space, playing a complex female detective in a long-format series. And she’s all in.
Reflecting on this new transition, Vaani says, “In films, you have only two to three hours where you have to create the arc, establish it and layer out everything in that concise period of time. I was very intrigued coming into the long format, as it helps you explore as an actor. You get much more leverage to create more nuances, layers and get into the depth of everything.”
This shift to OTT, she explains, has allowed her to tap into a more expansive storytelling experience — one where she could fully immerse herself in her character’s internal conflicts and emotional evolution.
In Mandala Murders, Vaani portrays a female detective — a character archetype often presented with a hardened exterior. But she’s tried to take a more grounded approach to the role. Drawing inspiration from past cinematic portrayals of strong female leads, Vaani cites Mardaani as a film that deeply influenced her. “All this while, we have seen women in the thriller genre being very strong, well put together, they are assertive and have a certain demeanour. I love that and I have seen that in films like Mardaani over the years in our industry,” she notes.
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However, Vaani didn’t want to simply replicate that template. Instead, she focused on infusing her character with realism and emotional honesty. “I tried to make my character more real and relatable. I wanted to show not just strength but also raw vulnerability as she is fighting her own demons, while trying to be the best in what she is doing. She is a fighter from within, like how women usually are, as they have so much strength.”
While Kapoor is enjoying the acclaim coming her way, the year has also brought setbacks. Her film Abir Gulaal, which was set to mark the Bollywood return of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, was banned in India following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in April.
Addressing the issue publicly for the first time, she says, “I don’t think anybody’s intention was to hurt anyone’s sentiment. The film was made to spread love, unfortunately, all it got was hate. But it was shot at a very different time. It’s unfortunate about the whole attack that happened, but the film was shot way earlier, when there were no issues.”
She adds that the production team complied with all necessary legal protocols and that they fully respect the country's sentiment in light of recent events. “We always have abided by the laws... One has put the sentiment of the nation first.”
With Mandala Murders, Vaani Kapoor is set to prove that her acting prowess extends well beyond the big screen, into the richly layered, immersive world of OTT.
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