Vaani Kapoor Enters OTT With Mandala Murders: ‘There’s More Room to Perform’

Vaani Kapoor on Her OTT Debut With Mandala Murders: “Long Format Lets You Dig Deeper.”

After the box office success of Raid 2 earlier this year, Vaani Kapoor is stepping into the OTT space with Mandala Murders, marking a new phase in her career. While she admits to feeling nervous, Kapoor is also excited about the creative freedom that long-format storytelling offers.

“In films, you have just two to three hours to build and layer a character,” Kapoor says. “But in a long format, you get more time to go deeper, create more nuances, and truly explore a character’s journey.”

In Mandala Murders, Vaani plays a detective — a role often portrayed with a strong, unflinching exterior. While she draws inspiration from films like Mardaani, Kapoor says she aimed to bring a different emotional depth to her character. “Yes, women in thrillers are often shown as assertive and composed. But I wanted to show vulnerability too — that emotional complexity. My character is strong, but she’s also fighting her own demons. That internal fight, I feel, is where real strength lies — something I see in so many women around me.”

On Abir Gulaal and Its Ban
Kapoor also addressed the controversy surrounding her shelved film Abir Gulaal, which was set to feature Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his Bollywood return. The film was banned in India following the Pahalgam terror attack in April.

Opening up for the first time on the matter, Kapoor said, “The film was shot long before the attack, in a time when there were no such tensions. The producers had all the necessary permissions. But after the tragic incident, we all respected the national sentiment. No one intended to hurt anyone — it was a film made with love, unfortunately met with hate. We’ve abided by the law and stood by the emotions of the country.”