Amid Saiyaara's success, Mandala Murders actor Vaani Kapoor on power of a great love story: 'One person will get it right and it'll be the biggest blockbuster' | Exclusive

Vaani Kapoor urged Bollywood to revive heartfelt love stories, ahead of the Saiyaara release, as proof that audiences still crave emotional, romantic films amid a trend of repetitive storytelling.

Vaani Kapoor/Instagram

As her web series debut Mandala Murders begins streaming on Netflix from July 25, 2025, Vaani Kapoor is in the spotlight not just for her work but for her sharp observations on the state of storytelling in Bollywood. In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, conducted just a day before the release of Saiyaara on July 18, Kapoor expressed concern over the current lack of fresh, emotionally resonant love stories being made in the industry.

Both Mandala Murders and Saiyaara are backed by Yash Raj Films, but while the former is a gritty long-format crime thriller, the latter—a romantic drama featuring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda—has taken the box office by storm. As of July 26, Saiyaara has turned out to be one of the biggest blockbusters of 2025, crossing Rs 250 crore globally within its first week and becoming the second highest-grossing Hindi film of the year.

Vaani Kapoor longs for good love story

In her interview, Vaani said she had been actively seeking a strong love story, both as an actor and a filmgoer. “I feel like there's a dearth of good writing. Where are the writers? I was looking for a good love story because I crave it as an audience; I want to be part of it and do something that is just like a very good, feel-good film,” she said.

ALSO READ: Mandala Murders review: Vaani Kapoor enters the circle of fear, but the centre doesn’t hold

She added that most narrations she hears feel repetitive and lacking in originality. “There's nothing new and I genuinely feel there's a little cynicism attached to it in today's time when it comes specifically to this genre,” Vaani observed. According to her, the romantic genre is being sidelined at a time when audiences still have an appetite for emotionally rich stories.

Romance still resonates

Pointing to the example of Aashiqui 2 she noted, “There are so many people who rooted for that film. People are ready to watch it. We need to feel. We as human beings need love. It's like a generator for us, it builds that electricity. Hate will only bring us down.”

Vaani also questioned the lack of conviction among creators themselves. “I have friends who are writers and directors, and I ask them, ‘Why is no one writing?’ People say there’s no belief system in today’s love, which is so sad,” she said. Yet, she remains optimistic that one breakthrough story could change everything. “One person will get it right, and it’ll be the biggest blockbuster you’ll see. And you’ll be like, ‘Oh, damn. We were all along waiting for this one thing to happen.’”

Vaani’s comments carry even more weight in light of the massive success of Saiyaara a film driven by romance and an emotional core. She believes the film’s performance is proof that audiences are still deeply connected to love stories when done right.

Call to rewire

“There needs to be more,” she said. “We all need to rewire ourselves as human beings, because the fad is this whole hate culture or cancel culture. Let’s steer away and go back to our roots.”

Kapoor’s words serve as both a reflection and a reminder that, even though romantic dramas are rare in mainstream cinema, there is still space and a need for heartfelt stories in Bollywood.

Share