Inspector Zende is a new film about the Mumbai cop who caught the infamous criminal Charles Sobhraj. Instead of focusing on Sobhraj, the story follows Inspector Madhukar Zende and his team as they chase down the so-called “Bikini Killer.” It is meant to be part thriller and part comedy, showing the cat-and-mouse game between a clever cop and a smooth, dangerous criminal. On paper, it’s a fresh idea, but on screen the film struggles to hold its pace.
The biggest strength of the movie is Manoj Bajpayee. Just like in The Family Man, he plays an ordinary-looking officer who wins with his brain and persistence rather than showy action. He slips into the role of Zende with ease, mixing seriousness with a touch of humor. Whether he is planning the next move with his team or spending quiet moments with his wife, Bajpayee makes it all believable. Without him, the film would not work at all.
Jim Sarbh plays Carl Bhojraj, the character based on Sobhraj. He looks sharp and speaks with style, but the script gives him very little to do. Most of the time he just delivers cryptic lines or smirks at the camera. This makes the villain less memorable than he could have been. It almost feels like the film wanted to use Sobhraj’s name and glamour without fully exploring the real person behind it.
The supporting cast does their job well. Girija Oak, as Mrs. Zende, brings warmth and adds a human touch to the story. Sachin Khedekar, Bhalchandra Kadam, and others bring light moments and keep the mood from getting too heavy. The film also gets the small details right — the look of old Bombay, the cars, the costumes. But the music and humor don’t always land, and the middle portion drags on, making the story feel repetitive.
In the end, Inspector Zende is not a bad film, but it never lives up to its potential. The chase becomes predictable after a while, and the tension doesn’t build the way it should. What keeps you watching is Manoj Bajpayee’s steady performance and the occasional burst of fun. It’s a watchable movie with a few good moments, but not one that will stay with you for long.