Joseph678 at 04:59, 2 March 2026

2026-03-02T04:59:06Z

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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| image = Inspector Zende poster.jpg
| caption = Official release poster
| director = [[Chinmay Mandlekar]]
| writer = [[Chinmay Mandlekar]]
| producer = {{ubl| Jay Shewakramani | [[Om Raut]]}}
| starring = {{ubl| [[Manoj Bajpayee]] | [[Jim Sarbh]] | [[Sachin Khedekar]]}}
| cinematography = [[Vishal Sinha]]
| editing = Meghna Manchanda Sen
| music = Sanket Sane
| studio = Northern Lights Films
| distributor = [[Netflix]]
| released = {{Film date|2025|09|05|df=y}}
| runtime = 112 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 2025 |title=''Inspector Zende'' (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/inspector-zende-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdmynjqz |access-date=5 September 2025 |website=[[British Board of Film Classification]] |language=en}}</ref>
| country = India
| language = Hindi
}}
'''''Inspector Zende''''' is a 2025 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[comedy thriller]] film directed and written by [[Chinmay Mandlekar]] and produced by Jay Shewakramani and [[Om Raut]]. The film stars [[Manoj Bajpayee]] as Inspector Madhukar Zende and [[Jim Sarbh]] as Carl Bhojraj, a character inspired by the infamous serial killer [[Charles Sobhraj]]. It was released on 5 September 2025 on [[Netflix]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-08-25 |title='Inspector Zende' trailer: Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh on a cat and mouse chase - WATCH |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/inspector-zende-trailer-manoj-bajpayee-and-jim-sarbh-on-a-cat-and-mouse-chase-watch/articleshow/123499802.cms |access-date=2025-08-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wandermurem |first1=Isadora |title=The True Story Behind Netflix's 'Inspector Zende' |url=https://time.com/7314528/inspector-zende-true-story-netflix-charles-sobhraj/ |access-date=6 September 2025 |work=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]] |date=5 September 2025 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A Daring Inspector, The Notorious Swimsuit Killer, And One Epic Cat-And-Mouse Chase: Netflix Unveils Trailer for 'Inspector Zende' |url=https://about.netflix.com/news/a-daring-inspector-the-notorious-swimsuit-killer-and-one-epic-cat-and-mouse |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=About Netflix |language=en}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Inspector Zende was a smart police officer who had caught the notorious serial killer Carl Bhojraj 15 years ago. In the current timeline (1980) he gets the news of Carl running away from Tihar jail. He sets up with his team to apprehend him again.

== Cast ==
* [[Manoj Bajpayee]] as Inspector Madhukar Bapurao Zende, Maharashtra Police
* [[Jim Sarbh]] as Carl Bhojraj, French criminal/Bikini Killer and robber
* [[Sachin Khedekar]] as DGP Chandrakant S. Purandhare
* [[Girija Oak]] as Vijaya Zende, Wife of PI Zende
* [[Bhalchandra Kadam]] as constable Bhalchandra Patil alias Rushi Kadoo
* [[Vaibhav Mangle]] as PI Fonseca,Panji Police station, Goa Police
* Harish Dudhade as ASI Jacob D'Costa, Maharashtra Police
* [[Onkar Raut]] as Patekar
* Bharat Savale as Naik
* Devaang Bagga as Lalit
* Nitin Bhajan as Ram Deshmane
* [[Madhav Vaze]] as Joshi Kaka

== Production ==
The film is directed and penned by [[Chinmay Mandlekar]] in his directorial debut. The film draws from the real-life story of Madhukar Zende, the Mumbai police officer who arrested [[Charles Sobhraj]] twice; once in 1971 and again in [[Goa]] in 1986 after his escape from [[Tihar Prisons|Tihar Jail]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Netflix's Inspector Zende: the real-life thriller of Charles Sobhraj, 3 shocking clues that ended his run & where's he now |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/entertainment/netflixs-inspector-zende-the-real-life-thriller-of-charles-sobhraj-3-shocking-clues-that-ended-his-run-wheres-he-now/articleshow/123367768.html |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Indiatimes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramnath |first=Nandini |date=2015-10-27 |title=Charles Sobhraj hated India, but the country got to him in the end |url=https://scroll.in/reel/764804/charles-sobhraj-hated-india-but-the-country-got-to-him-in-the-end |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=Scroll.in |language=en}}</ref>

== Marketing ==
The project was officially announced by [[Netflix]] on 7 August 2025 with Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh in lead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Manoj Bajpayee And Jim Sarbh's Inspector Zende Release Date Announced, Poster Out |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/web-series/manoj-bajpayee-and-jim-sarbhs-inspector-zende-release-date-announced-poster-out-ws-l-9490450.html |access-date=2025-08-26 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref>

== Release ==
The film premiered exclusively on Netflix on 5 September 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inspector Zende {{!}}Netflix |url=https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81778084}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|69|6|13|consensus=|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inspector Zende |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/inspector_zende |access-date=24 September 2025 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> Radhika Sharma of ''[[NDTV]]'' gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that "Inspector Zende would have remained incomplete without its superb supporting cast with memorable performances."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Radhika|last=Sharma|title=Inspector Zende Review: Manoj Bajpayee, Jim Sarbh Are Phenomenal In This Netflix True Crime Story|url=https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/inspector-zende-review-manoj-bajpayee-jim-sarbh-are-phenomenal-in-this-netflix-true-crime-story-3-5-stars-9221471|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=NDTV |language=en}}</ref>
Rahul Desai of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter India]]'' observed that "'Inspector Zende' stands out because of the genre it chooses."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Rahul|last=Desai|title=‘Inspector Zende’ Movie Review: A Manoj Bajpayee Special That Injects History With Humour|url=https://www.hollywoodreporterindia.com/reviews/streaming/inspector-zende-movie-review-a-manoj-bajpayee-special-that-injects-history-with-humour|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter India |language=en}}</ref>
Anuj Kumar of ''[[The Hindu]]'' wrote "A string of heart-warming moments and a malleable Manoj keep us invested in this otherwise generic hunt for the Serpent."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Anuj|last=Kumar|title=‘Inspector Zende’ movie review: Manoj Bajpayee makes this chase for Charles moderately enjoyable|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/inspector-zende-movie-review-manoj-bajpayee-charles-sobhraj-jim-sarbh-netflix-movie-moderately-enjoyable/article70015921.ece|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=The Hindu |language=en}}</ref>

Udita Jhunjhunwala writing for ''[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]'' said that "Muddled history and a parodic tone hamper this new film version of the Charles Sobhraj story."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Udita|last=Jhunjhunwala|title=‘Inspector Zende’ review: Send-up of crime folklore marred by inconsistency|url=https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/art-and-culture/inspector-zende-review-charles-sobhraj-manoj-bajpayee-jim-sarbh-film-chinmay-mandlekar-11757152461231.html|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Mint |language=en}}</ref>
[[Shubhra Gupta]] of ''[[The Indian Express]]'' gave 2 stars out of 5 and said that " The attempt at a serio-comic tone in the Manoj Bajpayee-Jim Sarbh film falls flat with only an occasional leap or two, with the writing struggling to match the audacity of the criminal and the enterprise of his nemesis."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Shubhra|last=Gupta|title=Inspector Zende movie review: Manoj Bajpayee-Jim Sarbh’s patchy film fails to leave an impact|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/movie-review/inspector-zende-movie-review-manoj-bajpayee-jim-sarbhs-patchy-film-fails-to-leave-an-impact-10231739/|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>
Mayur Sanap of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' rated 2/5 stars and observed that "Inspector Zende had the potential to be genuinely entertaining. Instead, it settles for formulaic fun."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Mayur|last=Sanap|title=Inspector Zende Review: Mildly Amusing|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/review/inspector-zende-review/20250905.htm|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Rediff.com|language=en}}</ref>

Rishabh Suri of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' gave 3 stars out of 5 and said that "Overall, Inspector Zende is an engaging watch in parts, lifted by Manoj Bajpayee’s steady presence and a cast that rises to the occasion. Yet the repetition in storytelling keeps it from reaching the heights its premise promised. At three stars, this is a serviceable thriller with a humorous streak, more enjoyable for its performances than its plot."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Rishabh|last=Suri|title=Inspector Zende review: Manoj Bajpayee's conviction makes this sluggish yet funny film on Charles Sobhraj's arrest work|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/inspector-zende-review-manoj-bajpayees-conviction-makes-this-sluggish-yet-funny-film-on-charles-sobhrajs-arrest-work-101757049064428.html|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref>
Nandini Ramnath of ''[[Scroll.in]]'' observed that "Inspector Zende often resembles a tacky old Hindi movie in which cops arrive at the scene after the criminal has bolted. Some of the parodic humour is contributed by Zende, an old-fashioned specimen of law enforcement who doggedly pursues his target."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Nandini|last=Ramnath|title=‘Inspector Zende’ review: A cartoonish caper about a daredevil Mumbai cop|url=https://scroll.in/reel/1086116/inspector-zende-review-a-cartoonish-caper-about-the-hunt-for-a-career-criminal|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Scroll.in|language=en}}</ref>
Lachmi Deb Roy of ''[[Firstpost]]'' rated it 3/5 stars and said that "Everything said and done, the film is immensely superior to the other releases of this week and as usual Manoj Bajpayee is absolutely phenomenal. I assure watching this film is going to be damn good fun."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Lachmi Deb|last=Roy|title=Netflix's ‘Inspector Zende’ Movie Review: Manoj Bajpayee shines in the role of real-life Inspector Madhukar Zende|url=https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/netflix-inspector-zende-movie-review-manoj-bajpayee-shines-in-the-role-of-real-life-inspector-madhukar-zende-13931045.html|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Firstpost|language=en}}</ref>

Shubham Kulkarni of ''[[OTT Play]]'' rated it 2.5/5 star and said that "The new Netflix film aspires to turn a gory story into a pulp fiction-like narrative but forgets that aspiration midway."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Shubham|last=Kulkarni|title=Inspector Zende Review: Manoj Bajpayee leads a fun gang in a dull world|url=https://www.ottplay.com/review/inspector-zende-review-manoj-bajpayee-leads-a-fun-gang-in-a-dull-world/494ce92f4b148|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=OTT Play|language=en}}</ref>
Jaya Dwivedie of ''[[India TV]]'' rated it 3.5/5 stars and writes "'Inspector Zende' definitely deserves a watch. Carl Bhojraj's story has been shown on screen many times before, but this is completely Inspector Zende's story, a real hero who is a part of the justice system, whose story needs to be known worldwide. The film has masala, emotions, and patriotism, which puts this film in the category of great films."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Jaya|last=Dwivedie|title=Inspector Zende Movie Review: Manoj Bajpayee delivers must-see performance in a gripping crime thriller|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/entertainment/movie-review/inspector-zende-movie-review-manoj-bajpayee-delivers-must-see-performance-in-a-gripping-crime-thriller-1087|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=India TV|language=en}}</ref>
Archika Khurana of'' [[The Times of India]]'' gave 3.5 stars out of 5 and said that "Watch it for Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh’s performances, nostalgic 80s Mumbai, and a light-hearted take on a legendary manhunt."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Archika|last=Khurana|title=Inspector Zende Movie Review|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/movie-details/inspector-zende/movieshow/123667040.cms|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

Devesh Sharma of ''[[Filmfare]]'' rated it 3/5 stars and said that " It doesn’t dig deep into the psychology of its infamous subject, nor does it fully exploit the humour of its premise. What keeps it afloat is Bajpayee’s brilliance and the sincerity of its supporting cast.
A lighter take on a dark chapter of history, Inspector Zende may not thrill, but it does amuse.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Devesh|last=Sharma|title=Inspector Zende Review: Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh Shine in Their Respective Roles|url=https://www.filmfare.com/reviews/bollywood-movies/inspector-zende-review-manoj-bajpayee-and-jim-sarbh-shine-in-their-respective-roles-77336.html|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Filmfare|language=en}}</ref>
Subhash K Jha of ''[[News 24 (Indian TV channel)|News 24]]'' rated it 2/5 stars and said that "What is so funny about a cop trying to nab a notorious criminal? One would like to ask writer-director Chinmay Mandlekar why he thought it prudent to use the facetious tone of narration for a crime story that shook the world? And why is crime a laughing matter in the first place?"<ref>{{Cite web |first=Subhash K|last=Jha|title=Inspector Zende Review: Not Funny At All|url=https://news24online.com/entertainment/inspector-zende-review-not-funny-at-all/627032/|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=News 24|language=en}}</ref>
[[Bollywood Hungama]] gave it 3.5 stars out 5 and said that "On the whole, INSPECTOR ZENDE is a refreshing blend of real-life inspiration and quirky storytelling, and stands out for its humor, crisp runtime, and stellar performances, especially Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Bollywood|last=Hungama|title=Inspector Zende Movie Review: INSPECTOR ZENDE is a refreshing real life inspiration.|url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/inspector-zende/critic-review/inspector-zende-movie-review/inspector-zende-is-a-refreshing-real-life-inspiration//|access-date=2025-09-06 |website=Bollywood Hungama|language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|tt35076553}}

[[Category:2025 films]]
[[Category:2025 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2025 Indian films]]
[[Category:2025 direct-to-video films]]
[[Category:2025 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:Films set in Goa]]
[[Category:Films set in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Cultural depictions of fraudsters]]
[[Category:Films set in the 1980s]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Goa Police]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of the Maharashtra Police]]
[[Category:Films about real serial killers]]
[[Category:Films à clef]]

Inspector Zende - Revision history

Joseph678 at 04:59, 2 March 2026