Vaani Kapoor on choosing Mandala Murders: 'Never played it safe' | Exclusive

In an exclusive interview with OTTplay, Vaani Kapoor opens up about breaking stereotypes, exploring faith in Mandala Murders and rejecting typecasting.

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Mandala Murders marked Vaani Kapoor’s foray into the long-format space, and ahead of its release on Netflix on July 25, 2025, the actor opened up to OTTplay about why the series challenged her creatively and why she continues to reject typecasting.

Vaani Kapoor on exploring faith and belief

The thriller-drama plays heavily with themes of belief systems and personal faith—something that prompted Kapoor to think more deeply about her own outlook. “At times you do question,” she admitted, adding that as someone who often overthinks and inhabits multiple mental spaces at once, she tends to reflect deeply on each character she plays. Referring to her character Rea Thomas, she explained how it made her consider personal boundaries around faith: “Would you do this? Would you do that? How? Where would your faith lead you to, or your beliefs?” While she acknowledged that faith can offer “utmost strength,” she also warned that “it can also be a blind spot.” For Kapoor, the key lies in maintaining balance. “You should have an open mind. You shouldn't box yourself and say, ‘What I believe in...’ It’s very important to have a little room for discovery... where you could see life through a different lens, or you could see others through a different lens.”

Having dabbled in different genres over the years, Kapoor agreed that Mandala Murders is a departure from the kind of roles audiences usually associate her with. “I was very intrigued,” she said, reflecting on how she’s often been slotted into particular archetypes. After Shuddh Desi Romance where she played a girl from Jaipur, she recalled being offered several similar roles—small-town girls with a rebellious streak. “I just did this role. Again, the same role? Why would one want to see me again in the same thing?”

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Vaani Kapoor on pushing back against glamour typecasting

Kapoor said she was relieved when Befikre came her way, allowing her to play a character with a completely different worldview. But that led to a different kind of typecasting. “After that film, I only got bold roles, only sexy, bold glamour roles,” she said, noting that even in films like War and Raid 2 she tried to find realism and depth within the parts. Her choices, she clarified, have always been driven by intention, not trend: “Am I looking to do the exact same thing, make quick bucks by doing a couple of similar projects, and be out and done with my career... or am I really here in it for the long haul?”

Her answer, as she put it, lies in her filmography. “I genuinely love cinema, and I want to be here... I’ve never played it safe. At least that’s been my intention.”

Addressing the de-glam misconception

Kapoor dismissed the assumption that Mandala Murders is her first de-glam role, saying, “Actually, I've been de-glammed in my first film too... Even Raid 2 was not glamorous.” That said, she’s happy audiences are seeing her differently now. “It's nice. It's refreshing for the audience... which also keeps audiences' anticipation on a high.”

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