Annup Sonii on Breaking Free from the Crime Patrol Image and Rediscovering the Actor Within

SAURABH TANKHA

Most viewers know Annup Sonii as the calm, authoritative face of Crime Patrol. However, long before he became one of Indian television’s most recognisable hosts, the Ludhiana-born actor was a theatre enthusiast chasing a dream that began far from Mumbai’s glamour.

A graduate of the prestigious National School of Drama (NSD), Annup’s journey into acting was anything but conventional. In fact, he was pursuing a law degree at Rajasthan University when he first heard about NSD. That discovery changed the course of his life.

“I’d always loved acting but had never thought of it as a career option,” he recalls. “It was while doing my first year of LLB that I got to know about the National School of Drama and decided to give it a shot.”

What followed was a career spanning theatre, television, films, web series and hosting. Yet, despite the success of Crime Patrol, Sonii admits that he eventually felt the need to break away from the image audiences had built around him.

In a candid conversation with Saurabh Tankha, Annup Sonii reflects on his NSD days, early struggles in Mumbai, Balika Vadhu, Crime Patrol, theatre, OTT platforms and his constant desire to be recognised first and foremost as an actor.

From Law Student to NSD

The turning point came when Annup’s father, who worked with the Steel Authority of India, was transferred to Jaipur. The city’s vibrant theatre culture exposed him to a world he had never seriously considered before.

As his interest in acting grew, he set himself a challenge. If he failed to secure admission to NSD on his first attempt, he would return to law studies. Fate had other plans.

“I got selected in my very first attempt,” he says. “I wanted to be fully prepared and understand the craft before entering the industry.”

Convincing his parents was not difficult. Annup explained that an NSD education could also open doors to government institutions such as Doordarshan, All India Radio and university drama departments. The assurance helped ease their concerns.

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

The three years at NSD proved transformative. While the dream of working in films remained alive, the institute broadened his understanding of performance and storytelling.

“It was at NSD that I realised acting is a craft,” he says. “The more you nurture it, the richer you become.”

The institute’s library introduced him to Indian and international theatre legends, while practical training taught him the value of observation, discipline and understanding human behaviour.

Mumbai, Television and the First Break

After graduating, Annup returned briefly to Jaipur before shifting to Mumbai in 1996-97 with dreams of making it in films.

Reality, however, had different plans.

Though films were his initial goal, television arrived first. Director Anubhav Sinha cast him in Sea Hawks alongside Om Puri, a project that opened multiple doors.

A series of successful television shows followed, including Saaya, I Love You, Kartavya, Jhoota Sach and Mahayagya.

“Before I could realise it, eight years had gone by,” he says.

Balika Vadhu and the Crime Patrol Phenomenon

Despite steady work, Sonii felt he wasn’t getting the kind of film roles he desired. Around that time, Balika Vadhu came his way.

The show’s socially relevant subject and promise of avoiding the typical saas-bahu template convinced him to join. It became one of Indian television’s biggest successes.

Soon after, Crime Patrol entered his life.

Within a short period, Annup became synonymous with the crime anthology series. While the popularity was immense, it also created an image he eventually wanted to move beyond.

“I wanted to break free from the image of a host,” he says. “I wanted audiences to know me as an actor who can host too.”

A New Chapter Through OTT and Theatre

The changing entertainment landscape offered exactly the opportunity he was looking for.

Ekta Kapoor’s web series Test Case, alongside Nimrat Kaur and Atul Kulkarni, reaffirmed his decision to leave Crime Patrol and explore new avenues.

“During the making of Test Case, I felt my decision to quit Crime Patrol was right,” he says.

Around the same time, he returned to one of his first loves — theatre. Collaborating with writer-director Atul Satya Kaushik, he launched the suspense thriller Ballygunge 1990, which successfully toured multiple cities before the pandemic interrupted its run.

Looking Ahead

Today, Annup Sonii remains committed to exploring different mediums rather than limiting himself to a single identity.

His film projects, web series ventures and theatre work reflect a performer constantly seeking new challenges.

“I believe one should keep doing work with honesty and let luck do its work,” he says.

For an actor who began as a law student with a dream, that philosophy continues to guide every new chapter of his journey.