Vaani Kapoor on Mandala Murders and OTT: 'New wave of female actors is leading action genre'
Vaani Kapoor makes her OTT debut with Netflix's Mandala Murders, calling it a career-defining role. She embraces action, praises streaming for offering better roles to women.
Last Updated: 09.55 AM, Jul 07, 2025
After spending nearly a decade in Hindi cinema, Vaani Kapoor is set to star in the upcoming Netflix series Mandala Murders. The picky actor revealed that she had been hoping for a significant role to make her streaming debut with.
Vaani Kapoor grateful for a role that pushes boundaries
To commemorate her streaming debut, Kapoor told Mid Day she wanted to do something special. The actor is filled with gratitude for discovering Mandala Murders, a gripping thriller that challenges her emotionally and physically. Taking this risk has compelled Kapoor to confront her fears and reveal her true self.
Gopi Puthran, famed for Mardaani 2, created and directs the series, which stars Kapoor as Rhea Thomas, a police officer in the made-up town of Charandaspur who is entrusted to solve a string of murders. Manan Rawat co-directs the show, which also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar, Vaibhav Raj Gupta, and Surveen Chawla. Yash Raj Films' Mandala Murders gives Kapoor fresh narrative territory to work in by fusing mythological motifs with crime thriller aspects.
Vaani Kapoor shifts gears
For Kapoor, whose acting career has mostly consisted of romantic comedies and glamorous supporting roles, breaking into OTT was fun and exciting. She remarked, "A new wave of female actors is taking on adrenaline-charged roles, showing that raw strength and deep emotion can thrive side by side on screen. Indian actresses are now fearlessly leading the action genre, something that was long overdue. There is a fair amount of grit and action that is empowering for an actor."
The series is set to stream on July 25, and Kapoor has already spoken about how the OTT market is changing the game for women in the business. She elaborates, saying, "I love streaming because an actress gets meatier projects and roles to show her craft on screen, which is often limited when it comes to theatrical movies, as they are mostly centred on our male actors."
Abir Gulaal release delayed amid unrest
Meanwhile, Aarti S. Bagdi's romance drama Abir Gulaal, which Kapoor was also involved in, is yet to get a release date. Originally set to be released in May, the film also features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. However, the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 led to the cancellation of its release. It has reportedly not been possible to sell the film's satellite and OTT rights.
Kapoor is aiming to rewrite her career's narrative arc with Mandala Murders, which will highlight her work outside of the realm of mainstream cinema.