When The Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini premiered on Hulu, it wasn’t just the shocking twists or real-life deception that captivated audiences. It was the distinct visual style that made every revelation hit harder. At the core of that transformation was Kartikye Gupta, whose expertise in VFX, graphics, and editorial work contributed to making the series one of the most visually distinctive true crime debuts on Hulu.
Unlike most crime docs that rely on text or simple re-enactments, Gupta built a narrative framework entirely through visuals. His graphics extended beyond presenting information. They revealed it. Location data pulsed with urgency, case files cracked open like secrets, and screen interfaces flickered with digital paranoia. Every motion was deliberate. Every frame was calibrated to carry emotional weight.
But it was Gupta’s editorial judgment that gave those visuals their true power. As both the designer and editor of these sequences, he carefully shaped the rhythm, timing, and emotional arc of each reveal. Graphics were more than just inserted, they were paced to breathe, build tension, allow for impactful reveals.
“We weren’t just showing messages or timelines, we were creating a new way to experience tension,” Gupta says. “Everything was designed to feel intimate and cinematic, like you’re inside the investigation, watching the truth crack open.”
More than exposition, Gupta’s visual storytelling acted as a psychological guide. He edited each graphic sequence with cinematic precision, holding just long enough to build tension, then cutting at the right moment to provide emotional impact. These visuals were narrative tools that shaped the entire viewing experience.
In fact, many sequences replaced traditional voiceover or B-roll entirely. Gupta’s bespoke visual treatments enabled the show to drop exposition without disrupting immersion. Viewers didn’t just see evidence, they felt it unravel in real time. Producers depended on Gupta to address major graphical and editorial challenges using only visuals, especially in moments of fractured memory, media distortion, or emotional ambiguity.
“These weren’t off-the-shelf templates,” Gupta explains. “Each graphic was architected from scratch to reflect the psychology of the moment. But the real magic came in the edit where we decided how long to hold, when to shift tone, and how to guide the audience without a single word.”
The results were evident. The Perfect Wife became Hulu’s highest-rated true crime series debut, received appreciation for its narrative restraint and for impact of its visual storytelling. Much of that can be traced to Gupta’s unique combination of visual design and editorial precision how he integrated timing, tension, and graphics into a unique rhythm that carried across the entire series.
For audiences, the show may be another addictive binge. For editors like Gupta, it reflects to the power of restraint and the idea that sometimes the strongest cut is the one that doesn’t draw blood, but encourages reflection.
As streaming platforms focus on true crime storytelling, the pressure is on to find new ways to tell familiar tales. And while viewers may not see his name in the opening credits, Kartikye Gupta plays a role in development of the new true crime looks and feels.
About Kartikye Gupta:
Kartikye Gupta is a video editor who works in commercials whose work has appeared on numerous global ad campaigns. Although not well-known to the general public, Gupta has edited over one business projects to appear on prominent media such as digital displays in Times Square and ad space during extremely-watched events such as the Super Bowl. His editing projects span a number of industries ranging from fashion, technology, to sport.
Gupta has a career in the media and advertising sector, where he has gained expertise in narrative and commercial editing. He has worked on projects touching on internationally based companies. As web content further changes form and delivery, editors like Gupta have a niche in a professional environment that values concise storytelling, technical expertise, and versatility with new media trends.
