Making her web debut with Mandala Murders, Vaani Kapoor says OTT offers meatier roles to heroines unlike big-screen outings that limit their scope
Vaani Kapoor. Pics/AFP, PTI, Instagram
Vaani Kapoor knew she would foray into digital entertainment sooner or later. But the actor was willing to wait until she found the right story. That came in the form of Mandala Murders, a crime thriller that has its roots in Indian mythology. She reflects, “I was looking for something special to mark my streaming debut. I’m glad I found Mandala Murders, where I’m taking centre stage in a thriller that pushes me both physically and psychologically. Taking this leap has challenged me to discover new layers of intensity, grit, and vulnerability.”
Created and directed by Gopi Puthran, who helmed Mardaani 2 (2019), the Netflix series sees Kapoor as Rhea Thomas, a sharp investigator who has to crack the case of a string of brutal murders in the town of Charandaspur. The YRF crime thriller, co-directed by Manan Rawat, also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar, Surveen Chawla, and Vaibhav Raj Gupta.
Vaani Kapoor plays an investigator in the show
Transitioning to OTT entertainment was natural for Kapoor, who believes that the medium is encouraging disruptive work. Mandala Murders only proves her theory, she says, pointing out how it gave her the chance to attempt action — something that her 12-year film career hadn’t offered to date. She says, “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.”
As she readies for the July 25 release, she notes that the OTT boom has been beneficial for women actors. “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.”
The story remains untold
Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan in Abir Gulaal
Vaani Kapoor’s romantic drama Abir Gulaal remains unreleased. The May release of Aarti S Bagdi’s directorial venture, which starred Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, was stalled after the Pahalgam attack on April 22. Reports suggest that its satellite and OTT rights are unsold as well.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
