‘Inspector Zende’, directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, is set to offer a unique, goofy take on the notorious manhunt for serial killer Charles Sobhraj. The movie focuses on his sensational escape from Tihar Jail in 1986. Leading the cast are Manoj Bajpayee as the titular Inspector Zende and Jim Sarbh as the elusive criminal.The duo is currently promoting the film on various platforms, and during one such promotional interview, Bajpayee took an indirect dig at the recent comedy films that have been produced in Bollywood.
Did Manoj Bajpayee just take a dig at Bollywood comedies of the current era?
Manoj Bajpayee’s character is based on the real-life Madhukar Zende, a former assistant commissioner of the Mumbai Police who famously captured Sobhraj at a restaurant in Goa. The film will offer Bajpayee a chance to showcase his comedic chops, a genre he believes is often misunderstood in the industry.In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Bajpayee expressed his willingness to do more comedies, provided they are well-written. He lamented the current state of the genre, stating that not many comedy films are being written these days. He said, “Most of them are slapstick for the sake of it—making faces, twisting your body. I just can’t do that.” He believes the industry has strayed from the classics that perfected situational and character-driven humor. The actor went on to say that the industry has “lost the tradition of films like ‘Angoor’, ‘Padosan’, or ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro…’, where the comedy just happens,” he added.
Jim Sarbh’s philosophy on comedy
Jim Sarbh, who plays the serial killer, also shared his unique perspective on what makes a performance funny. He explained his approach with an old theatre saying: “There’s an old theater saying—treat tragedy like comedy and treat comedy like tragedy.”The film promises a fresh perspective on a well-documented true crime story, blending humor with the high-stakes chase. It is set to release on September 5, 2025, on Netflix. Go to Source
