Sep 23, 2026 2:30pm IST
Anup Soni on ‘Crime Patrol’: ‘I’m Sure There Will Be A Season When I’ll Return’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Anup Soni has two projects releasing this weekend. “Shaque: Trust No One,” a web series, drops on OTT on September 24, while “The Vvaan” releases in theatres on September 25. Soni tells Variety India that the Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia-starrer blends mythology and folklore, a genre that’s trending right now. He adds, “There is folklore, there is tradition. The whole film has a very Indian vibe that everyone will relate to. Every region has its own folklore, stories they have heard in childhood. Our grandparents and parents know such stories. I would say ‘The Vvaan’ is a movie with wholesome entertainment.”
He also highlights that the film has a lot of special effects that will look good only on the big screen. Soni plays Sidharth Malhotra’s elder brother. “It is a story about a family. Traditionally, Hindi cinema had a family set-up, which is kind of missing in present times. The family is at the center of ‘The Vvaan,’ with folklore and mysteries woven around them. I am doing a feature film after a long time. ‘The Vvaan’ is a very important film for me.” His last outing in cinemas was “Satyamev Jayate 2” in 2021.
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Describing his experience of working with Arunabh Kumar on “The Vvaan,” he says, “I think Arunabh is a visionary because he’s somebody who saw the value and the importance of the digital medium very early. They innovated when YouTube was still in its early stages. So, he has that vision.” He feels that Kumar’s previous works like “Kota Factory,” “Panchayat,” and “Gullak” brought in a new wave of storytelling.
He adds, “Whether it is “Panchayat” or “Gullak,” Arunabh has shown that simplicity done right works as well as high-voltage drama. People were missing this kind of innocence in storytelling. That’s why shows like ‘Panchayat’ and ‘Gullak’ have run for many seasons. For ‘The Vvaan,’ their first feature film, they chose a similar premise: Indian folklore. The story is set in Indian values, milieus, families, tradition and culture. Arunabh is from Bihar, so he thought that if he is talking about Indian tradition, why not start from where I belong. This is why Chhath Puja plays a very important role in the movie.”
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Soni describes “Shaque” as a family thriller. “It is an out-and-out thriller but with a family as the central protagonist. It is about a mother who is searching for her daughter. Every episode is very gripping, and you will want to guess who the culprit is. My look in both these projects is very different. They are completely different characters. It is very exciting for any actor to have two projects releasing on the same day.”
When asked about the oversaturation of crime thrillers in the Indian streaming space, he opines, “No, no. See, that’s why I say that there is a difference between thriller and crime thriller. Crime thriller is a genre that is successful all over the world. There is no time period for that. In fact, I would say that it is perpetual. It’s working everywhere. But you have to make a good thriller. If it is routine, audiences will reject it.”
Soni, who has been the face of “Crime Patrol,” is missing this season. Ajay Devgn hosted 15 episodes before Rajesh Tailang took over. He says, “There are many seasons of Crime Patrol. I’m sure there will be a season when I’ll return.”
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