Saagar Kote
Directed by Chinmay D. Mandlekar, Netflix’s thriller drama film ‘Inspector Zende’ is a rousing tale of deception and wit that is narrated through the experiences of Madhukar Bapurao Zende, a cop who tries to hunt down and arrest a notorious international criminal named Carl Bhojraj, after his escape from Delhi’s Tihar Jail. The cat and mouse narrative explores the ideas of bravery, secrets, and redemption as the two men try to outdo each other in increasingly dangerous situations. The central character of the film, and his dynamics with his team members, are also essential elements of the story, as they lead to intriguing scenarios that are captured poignantly. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Inspector Zende is Inspired By a Real Manhunt in India
‘Inspector Zende’ is inspired by real-life events that transpired in India in the 1980s. The director Chinmay Mandlekar, who also serves as the writer of the film, based the script on these events that involved a manhunt for a criminal named Charles Sobhraj, who is infamously known as “The Serpent,” because of his snake-like ability to evade capture, and “The Bikini Killer,” due to to the fact that many of his victims were found dead wearing bikinis. Born Hotchand Bhawnani Gurmukh Sobhraj, the French serial killer Charles Sobhraj also has Indian and Vietnamese heritage. Sobhraj is believed to have murdered at least 20 tourists in South and Southeast Asia, with 14 of those murders occurring in Thailand. In 2003, Sobhraj traveled to Nepal, where he was apprehended, put on trial, and received a life sentence.
However, on December 21, 2022, Nepal’s Supreme Court ordered his release from prison due to his old age, following which he was deported to France, where he still roams free. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Jim Sarbh, who portrays Carl Bhojraj (a clever twist on Charles Sobhraj’s name) in the film, opined that he built his performance through viewing old interviews of Sobhraj. Talking about Charles, he stated, “He very much thought of himself as a gentleman. He was extremely clever, with a lawyer’s mind. He would never say anything that could implicate him.” The story is directly inspired by real-life individuals and the happenings around them.
The narration at the beginning of the film clearly notifies the audience that it is inspired by a true story about the efforts of the Mumbai Police. According to a 1986 report from The New York Times, Charles made a dramatic escape from a maximum-security prison, and accomplished this by drugging his guards with a birthday cake he had spiked. The film depicts this in the sequence wherein Carl Bhojraj escapes Delhi’s Tihar Jail. The aftermath of this particular incident led to shockwaves in real life, just like it does in the film.
Interestingly, a breakthrough was reportedly made by the police when three of the men, who escaped from jail with Charles, were caught. This led to major clues regarding the criminal’s whereabouts, after which the cops traced him to Goa, which ultimately led to his arrest. The nucleus of the manhunt in the film and in real life came after the revelation of these important clues. This sequence of events has been covered realistically in the film, which adds weight to its narrative and its true story aspects. The report from The New York Times also talks about how a special investigation team went to Goa and followed leads to capture the criminal. Despite its humor and certain cinematic liberties, ‘Inspector Zende’ resembles real life poignantly.
Madhukar Zende is Based on the Life of a Veteran Police Officer
Madhukar Zende is a man of conviction who battles the odds to hunt down Carl Bhojraj. The character of the brave inspector is based on the real-life experiences of Madhukar B. Zende. Manoj Bajpayee, whose portrayal of Zende adds flavor to the narrative, visited the house of the real-life cop in Pune in order to research the role. He also spoke to the veteran cop and obtained a peek into his daily life and routine. The actor stated, “At 88, Mr. Zende still walks more than 10 kilometres every day. He cooks his own food. He’s taking care of his house while his children are away. In a way, he is still a policeman.” This statement adds to the authenticity of the film and highlights the efforts undertaken by the leading actor to essay the role more realistically.
Talking to CNBC-TV18, the real-life Madhukar Zende opined that after a biopic titled ‘Zende’ was already screened, the Netflix announcement of the film felt like a continuation of the story that had fascinated people. Speaking about Manoj Bajpayee portraying him in the Netflix film, the veteran cop stated, “Manoj is a renowned actor, especially known for his powerful portrayals of police officers. I felt truly elated when I heard he would be playing me. I had the chance to interact with him, and I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of his preparation. He told me he had studied my career and principles from many different sources. It was humbling to see the seriousness with which he approached not just the role, but the values I tried to live by.” This indicates the retired cop heartily approved the making of the film and also enjoyed the narrative.
In an interview with PTI, Manoj Bajpayee said his character in the film is not intentionally funny, but appears so because of the situations he is in. The lead actor opined, “He’s not going out of his character. It’s about the seriousness with which he approaches the comedic moment. That really sells it and makes it work without distancing the actor from the character.” This is a poignant statement that reflects how Bajpayee approached the role and the challenges behind it. Thus, the experiences of the police officer helped the actor add a sense of authenticity to the role and also added a layer of authenticity to the overall story of ‘Inspector Zende.’
Read More: Is Carl Bhojraj Based on Charles Sobhraj?
