Vaani Kapoor has had a successful run in 2025 so far with her theatrical hit Raid 2. Now, she’s set to explore a new territory, the world of OTT, with Mandala Murders. While the actor admits feeling nervous about the shift, she’s equally excited to delve into long-format storytelling, which she believes allows her to explore her character in greater depth.

“I was very intrigued by the long format because it gives you much more room as an actor,” she says, adding, “You can explore more nuances, add more layers and really dive deep into the character. In films, you only get 2-3 hours to build an arc, establish it and layer everything in that time.”

In Mandala Murders, Vaani plays a detective, a role often associated with toughness. Ask her what influenced her to take up the role, and she points to films such as Mardaani (2014) for inspiration.

“I also wanted to bring a sense of realness and relatability to my character. She’s not just strong — she’s also vulnerable, fighting her own demons while trying to excel at her job. She’s a fighter from within, like most women, who carry incredible inner strength,” she ends.

Earlier this year, Vaani’s film Abir Gulaal, which was set to mark the Bollywood comeback of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, faced an unexpected roadblock when it was banned in India following the Pahalgam terror attack in April.

Breaking her silence on the controversy, Vaani says, “When we shot the film, the environment was very different... The producers ensured that every single permission was in place, and all legal protocols were followed. We are law-abiding citizens, and speaking for myself — half my family comes from an Army background. I’ve grown up watching my loved ones serve the country. I understand, on a very personal level, what sacrifice and duty to the nation truly mean,” she says.

Talking about social media backlash, Vaani adds, “I’m not here to prove how patriotic I am to people online. That’s not a benchmark.”

She further adds, “Nobody involved in the making of Abir Gulaal had any intent to hurt anyone’s sentiments. The film was made to spread love, unfortunately all it received was hate. But once the attacks happened, we fully respected and understood the mood of the nation. Not a single member of the team attempted to go against the law. The nation’s sentiment has always come first for all of us.”