Vaani Kapoor has finally made her debut in the OTT space with YRF’s new crime thriller Mandala Murders, now streaming on Netflix. While fans are praising her portrayal of the gritty CIB officer Rea Thomas,
the actress admits she is experiencing “a lot of anxiety” surrounding the release.
In a recent interview, Vaani spoke about her transition from films to OTT, the challenges of portraying a hardened police officer and how she copes with feedback and criticism.
Vaani Kapoor On Playing A Tough Cop
Mandala Murders is helmed by Gopi Puthra. It’s more than just a crime thriller. The show weaves together elements of mystery, supernatural horror and psychological drama. Set in the fictional town of Charandaspur, the story follows CIB officer Rea Thomas as she investigates a case involving ritualistic killings.
Speaking about the show, Vaani told the Hindustan Times, “I’ve never done something like this before. It’s very different in tone and energy. So to bite into it and to buy that world was a risk that the filmmakers took. I’m just grateful and happy for the opportunity, the fact that a filmmaker like Gopi sir could see something like this in me.”
She praised Gopi Puthran for creating a female cop who exudes gravitas, authority and quiet strength, all without falling into stereotypical portrayals. Vaani said, “He’s really trying to create that balance of who she is. She’s an individual, and girls and women in general embody so much inner strength, and when needed, the physicality stands up for this character.”
Vaani added that bringing Rea to life demanded more emotional depth and internal preparation than any role she’s tackled previously. She said, “To feel deeply by showing very little is something that was the biggest challenge. You’re doing more work internally, but the payoff can be quiet and subtle.”
Reflecting on her role further, Vaani said, “There’s more realism to her, and there’s more internal work. She’s not breaking down, she’s not being emotionally volatile. That was the attempt: to make her as earnest and honest as possible.”
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Vaani Kapoor’s Journey From Films To OTT
After making her Bollywood debut under the YRF banner with Shuddh Desi Romance in 2013 opposite Sushant Singh Rajput, Vaani Kapoor has spent the last decade building a career in cinema. Her first OTT project now marks a full-circle moment, once again under the YRF banner.
Reflecting on the changing landscape of the film industry, Vaani said, “You don’t see as many theatrical films coming out as the content that comes out on OTT platforms,” adding, “Actors also get those many opportunities to explore unexplored territories, in terms of performances, character graphs, characteristics of the portrayal of various kinds of characters with different layers that one can peel off with each episode.”
Vaani Kapoor On Taking Feedback Vs. Trolling
While many celebrities avoid the comment sections in social media platforms, Vaani Kapoor admits she reads every review, even the harsh ones. She said, “I literally go through each and every review. Yes, there are opinions which are constructive, and then there are some which are just harsh for the sake of it. I’m constantly understanding, evolving, learning, and growing from the feedback. It’s not like I’ve got it all together. I’m also understanding what works, what doesn’t work. And it’ll come with the experience.”
Vaani acknowledges that both constructive and harsh criticism come with the territory, but she’s learned not to tie her self-worth to external opinions. The Raid 2 actress reflected, “I’ve accepted that criticism is part of this journey of being an actor, and it will be constructive and it will be harsh. And you put yourself into your work, and sometimes it can just be reduced to a headline or a comment, which can sting. But over time, I’ve learned to separate my work from my worth. You start to understand that not every opinion is a reflection of your truth.”
She added, “Some feedback helps you grow, and some you simply have to just let pass, and what matters to me, honestly, is the intention. And honestly, you can’t please everyone.”
Mandala Murders: Cast
Alongside Vaani Kapoor, Manadala Murders also stars Vaibhav Raj Gupta and Surveen Chawla in significant roles. The series is currently streaming on Netflix.
