After a five-year hiatus, Anup Soni is returning as the anchor of Crime Patrol, a show he has long been synonymous with. For an actor who thrives on exploring new avenues with every project, how will this new season and his approach as an anchor differ from the past?

He says, “My approach remains as honest and grounded as it was five years ago. I’ve never adopted a fixed style or method. When I began hosting Crime Patrol in 2010, it was new for me too, and I just tried to be myself. I don’t want to come across as someone who’s all-knowing or trying to scare the audience. My role is simply to inform and alert them about the presence of crime in our society and remind them of safety measures. The key is connection. I need to connect with the audience, just as I did in the past. Rarely in life kuchh kaam aise ho jaate hain jinse aapka naam judd jaata hai aur woh kayi baar aapki image bhi bann jaati hai. While there are some drawbacks to it, it is ultimately a blessing that people recognize and shower you with love because of that show. I will always be grateful for this show in my life. The main reason for me to return to the show is its well-planned structure, which allows me to balance his acting projects. I’m an actor at heart, always hungry to explore new roles in different genres, whether in web series, films, or indie projects.”

Despite his love for Crime Patrol, the actor recalls a time when his association with the show led directors to assume he was too busy to take on new acting roles. He says, “There was a time when directors would ask, ‘Can Anup even spare time to read a script?’ They thought I was tied up with Crime Patrol because of its frequent repeat telecasts. When I left the show, a lot of people told me, ‘Kya bewakoofi kar rahe ho yaar?’ This is the rule of our industry jo chal raha hai, usko chalne do. Par agar main actor banne aaya tha toh main chalaane thodi aaya tha. Agar mujhe zindagi chalaani thi toh I would have done a 9-to-5 job. I was hungry as an artiste.”

Ask him about the challenges of finding meaningful roles as an actor his age, he replies, “Fortunately, I’m getting great offers from OTT platforms and films. Acting isn’t a specialized job. You don’t need formal training or a degree. If you perform well in an audition and fit the character, you get cast. Tomorrow, if a doctor wants to pursue acting, he can join the industry and become my competitor. But I can’t suddenly decide to become a doctor. I always say, if you want to be an actor, come when you truly feel it’s your passion. Craft is what will help you survive in the long run. Being successful is not the big thing; sustaining success is. Becoming popular isn’t the real challenge — staying relevant and continuing to grow as an actor is.”

The conversation turns to the changing landscape of stardom. Anup acknowledges that while content is king today, the obsession with looks and stardom is unlikely to fade.

He says, “We are a starstruck society, and always will be. We are biased about looks and will remain so. Star power still holds weight in the industry, whether it’s television, OTT, or cinema. Even today, when casting for big roles, directors often prefer established actors. As an actor, I haven’t come to bring a revolution. However, I believe there’s room for newcomers, and a fresh face can rise to stardom if given the right opportunity. While it’s fair for parents to support their children’s careers, the industry must also nurture talented outsiders. It’s important to maintain balance to avoid resentment. The problem arises when that balance is lost. Nepotism itself isn’t the issue; it’s every parent’s right to support their child and give them a platform. But the industry as a whole must strike that balance.”

Lastly, we ask him if plans to take on acting projects in television again and he responds, “I’m not undermining television, but daily soaps take up so much time that they leave little room for other projects. Right now, my focus is on exploring a variety of roles across films and web series. Growth happens when you’re exposed to different roles, directors, and actors.”