Netflix’s Inspector Zende, starring Manoj Bajpayee, has released and is already grabbing attention. The film portrays the thrilling cat-and-mouse chase between the Mumbai Police and a serial killer, inspired by the real-life criminal Charles Sobhraj, famously known as the Bikini Killer. After the movie’s release, audiences are curious to know where Charles Sobhraj and Inspector Madhukar Zende are today, and what really happened behind the events depicted on screen.
Where Is Charles Sobhraj Now?
Charles Sobhraj, born in Saigon in 1944 to an Indian father and a Vietnamese mother, was known as ‘The Serpent’, ‘Bikini Killer’ and ‘Splitting Killer’. He reportedly murdered more than 20 tourists in South Asia and Southeast Asia. He was jailed in India from 1976 to 1997 and returned to France after being released.
In 2003, he was given a life sentence in Nepal and was released from prison due to old age after serving for 19 years.
Where Is Madhukar Zende Now?
The case came back to Inspector Zende when he learned that Sobhraj was hiding in Goa. Zende and his team quietly followed him to the popular O’Coquiro restaurant, where Sobhraj often called his wife. The team’s secret operation was a success, and Zende arrested Sobhraj for the second time a moment that made him famous across India and earned him recognition from people like Rajiv Gandhi and Dilip Kumar.
Today, Inspector Madhukar Zende, who is 88 years old, is still remembered for catching Sobhraj twice. His story has been told in books, TV shows, and now in Netflix’s Inspector Zende, where he appears shaking hands with Manoj Bajpayee in the final scene.
About Netflix’s Inspector Zende
The Netflix film stars Manoj Bajpayee as Inspector Zende and Jim Sarbh as Charles Sobhraj, alongside Sachin Khedekar, Girija Oak, Harish Dudhde, Omkar Raut, Vaibhav Mangle, and Bhalchandra Kadam in pivotal roles.
Talking about his experience, Manoj Bajpayee shares, “What fascinated me about Inspector Zende was that he wasn’t chasing glory. He was just doing his job, yet caught one of the most notorious criminals twice. His bravery, humour, and that unmistakable Mumbai flavour make his journey truly inspiring. Meeting him felt like stepping into a storybook, with a lifetime of tales to tell. Playing him let me dive into a world that’s as gritty as it is entertaining. The trailer is only a glimpse, the film takes you right into the heart of it. I’m glad his story is finally getting the spotlight it deserves, and that too globally on Netflix.”
