Vaani Kapoor on Cinema vs OTT: “Good Content Always Finds Its Audience”

Vaani Kapoor, who made her Bollywood debut with Shuddh Desi Romance, is currently seen in Netflix’s web series Mandala Murders. In a recent interview with a media house, Vaani shared her thoughts on the ongoing debate about the quality of cinema content.

By Priyanka Yadav 29 Jul 2025 in Entertainment

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Vaani Kapoor on Cinema vs OTT: Vaani Kapoor, the beautiful actress who stepped into Bollywood with Shuddh Desi Romance, is now making her digital debut with Netflix’s Mandala Murders. The actress is receiving a positive response from audiences for her performance in the series.

Vaani on the Debate Around Cinema Content

A heated debate is ongoing in the industry regarding the quality of good and bad content in cinema, and Vaani has now jumped into the conversation. While speaking to a media house recently, she expressed her opinion. Vaani said, "Today, if the story isn't good, even top stars can get rejected by audiences. A big star is someone whose name alone pulls people to theatres. But now, nothing is certain. Anyone could become the next big star. The old formula doesn’t work anymore—audiences are smart now. They’re clearly saying: give us good content and we’ll watch—whether it’s on OTT or in theatres."
She added, "Gone are the days when films succeeded just because of a star's name. Maybe one or two films might still work because fans have a long-standing love for certain stars. But we are in the final phase of that era, when true megastars existed."

Trustworthy Actor in the OTT Era?

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Vaani always aspired to become an actress whom producers could trust blindly. Has OTT made this dream slightly easier? Vaani says, "It’s not necessary that every web series or film on OTT will be liked by viewers. You still have to wait patiently for your work to find the right platform. Theatrical releases are even more challenging, with bigger budgets and box office pressure."

OTT Encourages Experimentation

Talking about OTT and cinema, Vaani said, "An actor only controls their performance—and I give it my all. I’m working in both cinema and OTT, but for me, content has always been the priority, not the platform. If your work is good, opportunities will find you. It’s important to choose the right platform and give your best. In the end, acting is the same everywhere—the only difference is that OTT gives you a wider playground to experiment, to add more layers to characters, since you're not constrained by time like in theatrical films."

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Digital Platforms Spark My Curiosity

"Digital platforms have sparked my curiosity for acting. I’m not working here just because everyone else is. I gravitate toward projects that are emotionally challenging. My character in Mandala Murders is just that. OTT doesn’t limit you to ornamental roles or the stereotypical ‘girlfriend’ character—it offers a full-fledged stage to explore your acting potential."

Mandala Murders Trailer Out! Vaani Kapoor Leads An Investigation To Solve A String Of Brutal Ritual Murders In This Mythological Crime Thriller- Watch | Bollywood Bubble

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Film Career & Upcoming Projects

Vaani Kapoor has worked in several Hindi films, including Aaha Kalyanam (2014), Befikre (2016), War (2019), Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui (2021), Shamshera (2022), Bell Bottom (2021), and Khel Khel Mein (2024). She was also recently seen in Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2. However, her film Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, was banned after the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred in April.