Anup Soni has opened up about his long association with Crime Patrol as Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn prepares to take over as the host of the popular true-crime show.
Ajay’s entry has created plenty of excitement among viewers, but for many fans, Crime Patrol remains closely connected with Anup Soni, who hosted the show for several years and became one of its most recognisable faces.
Anup Soni on his Crime Patrol legacy
Reflecting on his career and the impact of the show, Anup Soni admitted that Crime Patrol became such an important part of his identity that people may continue to associate him with it for years.
Speaking to ANI, the actor said that before Crime Patrol, audiences largely remembered him for his role in the popular television show Balika Vadhu. However, after he became associated with Crime Patrol, the crime show eventually became the project people identified him with the most.
Anup explained that he has accepted this association rather than trying to distance himself from it. According to him, certain projects become defining moments in an actor’s career, especially when they become extremely popular with audiences.
Anup recalls Anil Kapoor’s advice
Anup also remembered advice he had received from veteran actor Anil Kapoor. The lesson, he suggested, was that actors should not necessarily try to escape the projects or characters that make them popular.
Instead, they should embrace the recognition that comes with them and continue building their careers around it.
For Anup, Crime Patrol became exactly that kind of milestone. His calm and serious presentation style became an important part of the show’s identity, and his presence helped establish a strong connection with viewers.
Ajay Devgn steps into the host’s chair
While Anup’s era remains memorable for fans, Crime Patrol is now entering another phase with Ajay Devgn as its new host.
The first promo featuring Ajay has already given viewers a glimpse of what the upcoming season will look like. In the promo, the actor speaks about the nature of crime and how, in many cases, the person responsible can be someone known to the victim.
Ajay ends the promo with the line, “Main rahunga aapke saath,” signalling his new role as the voice guiding audiences through the show’s cases.
The new season is scheduled to premiere on August 31 on Sony Entertainment Television.
A show with a long television history
Crime Patrol first premiered in 2003 and has gone through several changes in its hosting lineup over the years. Diwakar Pundir initially hosted the show before Shakti Anand took over.
The programme later returned in 2010 with Anup Soni and Sakshi Tanwar as hosts. Anup eventually became the show’s sole host and remained associated with it until 2018.
After his departure, several familiar television personalities, including Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya, Sonali Kulkarni, Ashutosh Rana and Sanjeev Tyagi, took on hosting responsibilities in different seasons.
Now, with Ajay Devgn stepping in, the show is preparing for another fresh chapter.
Anup Soni’s place in Crime Patrol history
Ajay Devgn may bring a new style and a Bollywood star presence to Crime Patrol, but Anup Soni’s contribution to the show remains an important part of its history.
For an actor, being remembered for one particular project can sometimes be complicated. However, Anup appears to see his association with Crime Patrol positively. The show gave him a distinct identity among television audiences and became one of the most recognisable chapters of his career.
As Ajay prepares to begin his journey as the new host, viewers will be curious to see whether he can create his own connection with the audience while carrying forward the legacy of one of television’s longest-running crime shows.
