Manoj Bajpayee Brings Humor to Policing in 'Inspector Zende'

Mumbai, Sep 2 (PTI) – Manoj Bajpayee has recently delved into the realm of comedy with notable success. First with the highly-praised series "The Family Man," and now as a Mumbai police officer in pursuit of a notorious criminal in "Inspector Zende". While Bajpayee is well-known for his intense roles, especially as a police officer in films like "Shool," "Special 26," and "Bhonsle," he reveals his fondness for humor that audiences can relate to.

"Before 'The Family Man', nobody thought that I could deliver humor with a straight face," Bajpayee expressed in an interview with PTI. He added that he enjoys crafting humor from real and relatable situations.

The character Madhukar Zende, portrayed by Bajpayee, draws inspiration from a real-life police officer who famously apprehended the notorious serial killer Charles Sobhraj twice. In the film, Sobhraj is renamed Carl Bhojraj and brought to life by Jim Sarbh.Bajpayee mentioned that his character’s quirks naturally emerge from the scenes rather than a deliberate attempt to be quirky.

“He remains true to his character, and it’s the serious approach to the comedic moments that effectively sells the humor," he elaborated. “By not overtly attempting comedy, the humor surfaces naturally.”

Reflecting on past roles, Bajpayee recalled the 1999 film "Shool" as his initial portrayal of a cop. "Shool" depicted a young idealistic officer disillusioned by the system, a role demanding deep immersion which affected Bajpayee's well-being at the time.

In contrast, "Inspector Zende," directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, presents a humorous take on pursuing a globally-known psychopath. Mandlekar’s approach injects humor into the chase without veiling Zende’s heroism.

Mandlekar clarified, "The humor emerges from Zende’s absurd circumstances, not from the character himself." "We ensured he wasn’t a caricature like Jacques Clouseau. Though his situation is comically ironic, Zende remains a hero."

The film features renowned Marathi actors such as Sachin Khedekar, Bhalchandra Kadam, Girija Oak, Onkar Raut, and Harish Dudhade. Mandlekar emphasized the authenticity he sought in casting, choosing Marathi actors for roles that resonate with their cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.

Supported by prominent actors, “Inspector Zende” is all set to premiere on Netflix on September 5.

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