Some mysteries demand resolution. Others survive on discomfort. Mrs. Deshpande, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor and streaming on JioHotstar, attempts to belong to the latter category. It is not merely interested in who the killer is, but in what we choose to call those who kill with purpose, pattern, and justification.
Starring Madhuri Dixit and Priyanshu Chatterjee, the series opens with an arresting premise. A former serial killer, once among the most ruthless of her time, is pulled out of life imprisonment to assist in solving a fresh string of murders. The twist lies in familiarity. The new killings imitate the exact style of the original murderer. The woman now asked to help stop the carnage is the very one who once authored it.
Zeenat or Mrs. Deshpande: The Myth, the Monster, the Mind
Madhuri Dixit plays Mrs. Deshpande (aka Zeenat), a name that exists somewhere between legend and warning. In her youth, she was allegedly one of the most feared serial killers in the country. Now older, restrained, and watched constantly, she re-enters the world not as a suspect, but as an asset.
Madhuri approaches the role with restraint rather than spectacle. There are no exaggerated theatrics, no loud declarations of guilt or innocence. Her performance thrives on ambiguity. A raised eyebrow, a delayed response, a smile that refuses to explain itself. The show consistently places the audience in the same position as the investigators. We are never fully allowed to trust her, nor are we encouraged to dismiss her outright.
A Premise Rich With Possibility, Uneven in Execution
The central idea of Mrs. Deshpande is compelling. A serial killer assisting in the hunt for a copycat opens up rich psychological terrain. But the series struggles to maintain narrative coherence. There is a constant back and forth around Zeenat’s true intentions, yet the writing often replaces depth with coincidence.
Clues fall into place too conveniently. Suspects appear and disappear with alarming ease. Characters oscillate between certainty and confusion without adequate emotional or logical grounding. The investigation feels less procedural and more reactive, which weakens the credibility of the mystery.
When Coincidence Becomes a Crutch
One of the show’s biggest hurdles is its reliance on coincidence. With multiple characters repeatedly falling under suspicion, the narrative begins to stretch its own plausibility. The suspense starts to feel manufactured rather than earned.
This overextension becomes most evident in the final episode. The plot bends excessively to accommodate a cliffhanger that appears designed more for franchise potential than narrative necessity. The result is a conclusion that feels forced, diluting the psychological tension the show attempts to sustain.
A Comparison That Cannot Be Ignored
It would be unfair to expect every mystery to mirror another, but comparisons are inevitable. Madhuri Dixit’s The Fame Game on Netflix, also a layered psychological mystery, was far more tightly woven. Where The Fame Game relied on character psychology and structural discipline, Mrs. Deshpande leans heavily on melodrama and flashbacks.
These flashbacks, while emotionally charged, often feel reminiscent of a 90s cinematic sensibility, stretched across six episodes. The heightened emotions, prolonged confrontations, and dramatic reveals occasionally undermine the seriousness of the premise.
Melodrama, Memory, and Missed Restraint
The series often struggles to decide what it wants to be. A psychological thriller. A moral study. A melodrama. This indecision reflects in its pacing. The first two episodes in particular struggle to hold attention, relying more on intrigue than momentum.
Yet, despite its flaws, the show remains watchable. The desire to uncover the truth keeps viewers invested. Each episode plants just enough doubt to compel continuation, even when logic falters.
Psychopath or Vigilante: The Unanswered Question
The most significant contribution of Mrs. Deshpande lies in the question it refuses to answer definitively. Is Mrs. Deshpande a psychopath who cloaked her violence in ideology, or a vigilante who targeted those who the society refused to hold accountable? And what about those inspired by her actions? Are they criminals, copycats, or by-products of unresolved injustice?
The series leaves this moral ambiguity unresolved, perhaps intentionally. It is both its strongest thematic choice and its most frustrating narrative.
Final Word
Mrs. Deshpande is an imperfect but intriguing psychological thriller. It falters in structure, leans too heavily on coincidence, and overstays its welcome in moments. Yet, it provokes thought, sustains curiosity, and offers Madhuri Dixit a role rooted in moral uncertainty rather than glamour.
It works best as a limited series, not a franchise. A single descent into ambiguity rather than an extended spiral. Watch it for the premise. Stay for the questions it raises. Leave without expecting neat answers.
Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Because some mysteries are meant to unsettle more than they are meant to resolve.
By: Anushka Singhal
