Saagar Kote
Netflix’s thriller drama film ‘Inspector Zende’ chronicles the tale of cat and mouse between a police officer named Madhukar Zende and a criminal on the run called Carl Bhojraj. After the criminal escapes Delhi’s Tihar Jail, he finds himself being pursued by Zende and his team, who are determined to capture him. Directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, the film deals with themes of courage, sacrifice, and deception. One of the most important characters in the film is Carl Bhojraj, whose actions lead to intriguing questions about the inspirations behind the role and whether or not he is based on a real individual. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Carl Bhojraj is Inspired by the Life of the Criminal Charles Sobhraj
Equipped with charm and confidence, Carl Bhojraj is a menacing villain who hides behind the garb of civility. He proves to be an evasive man who avoids being captured through various means. Various sources and perspectives from different people hint at the fact that the character is based on the real-life killer called Charles Sobhraj. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Jim Sarbh, whose portrayal of Carl complements the narrative, opined that Charles Sobhraj considered himself a gentleman and was clever enough to avoid being implicated.
Sarbh, talking about the trajectories of serial killers, stated, “Most often they have very antagonistic relationships with their mothers. Charles doesn’t like to talk about his mother ever. The one or two times she’s mentioned in an interview, it’s about how beautiful she was, and then he doesn’t want to discuss anything further. You don’t know why he has this deep-seated, deep-rooted hatred, but it’s there.” This statement by the actor reveals that he researched Charles before essaying Carl’s role. According to a 1986 report from The New York Times, Sobhraj made a dramatic escape from a maximum-security prison in India by drugging his guards with a birthday cake laced with substances. Three weeks later, he was apprehended in a bar in Goa by policemen who were undercover as waiters.
This chronology of events is covered in detail in the film, from Carl Bhojraj’s escape to his recapturing by the cops headed by Madhukar Zende. The report also mentions the aftermath of the escape and how the police managed to capture Sobhraj. The case saw a breakthrough when three escaped prisoners were apprehended. The papers they carried likely led the police to Mr. Sobhraj’s location in the coastal resort of Goa. Madhukar Zende, who had previously arrested the criminal in 1972, apprehended him again. A special investigating team tracked Sobhraj after receiving a tip that someone was making international calls from a local bar. This proves that the stories of Bhojraj and Sobhraj are connected on a deeper level, with the latter inspiring the former.
A timeline-based report from Al Jazeera details important details and events in the life of Charles Sobhraj, which is reflected in the narrative, as well as the fate of Jim Sarbh’s character. In real life, Sobhraj was called the “Bikini Killer,” which is changed to “Swimsuit Killer” in the film. Additionally, Charles’ other nickname, “The Serpent,” is changed to “The Snake” in the film. This is an important clue that reveals how closely Carl and Charles are related. Interestingly, the notoriety of the criminal also inspired documentaries like Netflix’s ‘The Serpent,’ which chronicles his life and the various crimes he was involved in.
An Eyewitness’s Perspectives and Other Sources Reveal Details About Sobhraj’s Life
A detailed account of Charles’ arrest in 1986 is given by an eyewitness named Armando Gonsalves, who saw Madhukar Zende arrest the dreaded criminal. In a conversation with the PTI about the arrest, he said, “A wedding function was underway at the other side of the restaurant. I was enjoying drinks and dinner with my friend Auspicio Rodrigues when the incident happened.” The incident is realistically covered in the film through the experiences of Carl Bhojraj. The restaurant called “O’Coqueiro” has since become famous for being the place where Charles was arrested. According to a report from the Indian Express, Madhukar Zende, in an interview on the Awaara Musafir YouTube channel, spoke about Charles’ nature and his experience arresting him.
The cop, when talking about Charles’ past, stated, “Charles was a very rough fellow. He didn’t care about the police at all. He came (to Mumbai) with five men for a robbery.” This aspect of Charles’ carefree attitude is reflected in Jim Sarbh’s portrayal of Carl Bhojraj in the film. Though the film ends in 1986, Charles Sobhraj is still roaming freely in France, according to a 2025 report from CNBC-TV18. He returned to France in December 2022 as a free man after being released from Prison in Nepal due to his old age and worsening health. Despite the arrests, it might be shocking to many to find out that a convicted killer is roaming the streets of a sovereign country freely.
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