Charles Sobhraj, known as the Bikini Killer and the Serpent for his ability to avoid detection by authorities after committing murders. His criminal activities became well-known and became the subject of several shows and movies. 

Inspector Zende to The Serpent: Movies and shows based on Charles Sobhraj

<p>Manoj Bajpayee has returned to digital screens with Netflix's movie, Inspector Zende. Written and directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, the movie is inspired by the real life of Inspector Madhukar Zende, the Mumbai police officer, who not once, but twice, captured the criminal Charles Sobhraj.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Loosely inspired by the true story, the movie focuses on the life of a police officer and how he captured Sobhraj. The way the cop and thief game is presented in the movie it’s the most comic way one can imagine. However, in real life, it must be tough. In the movie, a little tweaking has been done, such as the name of French killer Charles Sobhraj being changed to Carl Bhojraj, the sociopath who had committed several murders and was on the run from Tihar Jail, New Delhi.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>As mentioned in the disclaimer of the movie, certain cinematic liberties have been taken to dramatise historical and true events. For those who are not aware of the history, here we have brought you the details of the real-life Zende.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/the-bengal-files-vs-baaghi-4-box-office-collection-which-film-earned-more-on-day-one-1757143295036">The Bengal Files Vs Baaghi 4 BO collection: Which film earned more on day one?</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Charles Sobhraj’s infamous jailbreak</h2><p>Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer, is famous for his notorious ways of sneaking out of prison. Over the years, he has been the subject of several popular shows and documentaries, but the most recent one is Inspector Zende, which does not focus on the killer but on the cop who smartly arrested him.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>While Zende arrested Sobhraj twice, this movie focuses on the second encounter, after he, along with six other prisoners, escaped from Delhi's Tihar Jail by drugging the entire jail staff. It was one of the most infamous jailbreaks in India's history.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Growing up, I heard countless stories about Inspector Zende from my father. Today, I’ve had the privilege to produce a film on him for Netflix.<br><br>A truly special moment ✨<br>In this BTS, the Reel Inspector Zende meets the OG Inspector Zende. 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/FhOSdbTnVM">pic.twitter.com/FhOSdbTnVM</a></p>&mdash; Om Raut (@omraut) <a href="https://twitter.com/omraut/status/1963896160676098301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Who was Inspector Zende, and when did he arrest Charles Sobhraj?</h2><p>The Netflix film is inspired by the real-life story of Madhukar Bapurao Zende, the inspector whose wit and sharp mind famously caught this killer twice. The Mumbai-based cop had a happy family life, and at the same time, he was truly dedicated to his job. In his decades-long career, he became famously known for capturing Sobhraj, who was clever enough to slip away from under the nose of the police.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/jonathan-bailey-is-taking-a-break-from-acting-here-s-what-he-will-do-now-1757126922778"><strong>Jonathan Bailey is taking a break from acting, here's what he will do now</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The man, who had run from the country, was captured by Zende, not once, but twice. This is what made the police inspector, one of the special ones. His popularity rose to the extent that once, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi stopped his car as he wished to meet him.</p>

<h2>When did Zende meet Charles Sobhraj for the first time?</h2><p>In 1971, the first arrest happened when Zende nabbed Sobhraj in Mumbai when he was planning a robbery. A tip-off from an informer helped him catch the criminal at the Taj Hotel, where he was found carrying a revolver.</p><p>Speaking to the YouTube channel, &nbsp;Awaara Musafir, Zende shared: “One of the criminals I helped in the past tipped me off about Charles Sobhraj. He had joined his gang. But after seeing guns and revolvers, he got scared and came running to me,” he shared, via Indian Express.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Describing Charles, Zende said he was a “rough fellow” who didn’t care about the police. The first arrest after Zende got a tip from the thief, who was going to help the criminal.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>Zende and Charles’ second encounter in Goa</h2><p>In 1986, Sobhraj cleverly escaped from Delhi's Tihar Jail by drugging officers with sweets. After news of Charles’ escape broke, Zende was handed the case to find him. And so he did. The inspector, along with his small team of cops and a limited budget, was sent to Goa, where they caught Sobhraj in a cafe that he used to visit to call his wife, who was in the USA.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After decades of service, Inspector Zende retired in 1996 as an Assistant Commissioner of Police. He was the first recipient of the President's Medal.</p>

Manoj Bajpayee's recent Netflix movie, Inspector Zende, is loosely based on the life of Mumbai-based Inspector Madhukar Zende, who nabbed Charles Sobhraj twice.

Manoj Bajpayee has returned to digital screens with Netflix's movie, Inspector Zende. Written and directed by Chinmay Mandlekar, the movie is inspired by the real life of Inspector Madhukar Zende, the Mumbai police officer, who not once, but twice, captured the criminal Charles Sobhraj. Loosely inspired by the true story, the movie focuses on the life of a police officer and how he captured Sobhraj. The way the cop and thief game is presented in the movie it’s the most comic way one can imagine. However, in real life, it must be tough. In the movie, a little tweaking has been done, such as the name of French killer Charles Sobhraj being changed to Carl Bhojraj, the sociopath who had committed several murders and was on the run from Tihar Jail, New Delhi. As mentioned in the disclaimer of the movie, certain cinematic liberties have been taken to dramatise historical and true events. For those who are not aware of the history, here we have brought you the details of the real-life Zende. Also read: The Bengal Files Vs Baaghi 4 BO collection: Which film earned more on day one? Charles Sobhraj’s infamous jailbreak Charles Sobhraj, a serial killer, is famous for his notorious ways of sneaking out of prison. Over the years, he has been the subject of several popular shows and documentaries, but the most recent one is Inspector Zende, which does not focus on the killer but on the cop who smartly arrested him. While Zende arrested Sobhraj twice, this movie focuses on the second encounter, after he, along with six other prisoners, escaped from Delhi's Tihar Jail by drugging the entire jail staff. It was one of the most infamous jailbreaks in India's history.

<p>Manoj Bajpayee's recent Netflix movie, Inspector Zende, is loosely based on the life of Mumbai-based Inspector Madhukar Zende, who nabbed Charles Sobhraj twice.</p>

Who is Inspector Zende? Supercop who caught Charles Sobhraj twice

<p>Before the era of CCTV and cyber forensics, Mumbai had Inspector Madhukar Zende — a street-smart cop who cracked impossible cases with grit, gut, and a dash of&nbsp;<i>jugaad (resourcefulness)</i>. Loosely inspired by a true story, Netflix’s upcoming film<i><strong>&nbsp;</strong></i>Inspector Zende brings to life the unbelievable pursuit of an everyday cop who became a legend by tracking down the elusive “Swimsuit Killer,” Carl Bhojraj — not once, but twice. The film’s trailer was unveiled on Monday, and from the looks of it, the film promises to be a quirky, nostalgia-filled, relentless chase that celebrates a hero whose story deserves to be told.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2>About Inspector Zende</h2><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Manoj Bajpayee leads as the sharp-witted Zende, locked in a tense game of cat and mouse chase with Jim Sarbh’s charming yet elusive Carl Bhojraj. The character seems to be loosely based on infamous serial killer Charles Sobhraj. The film also features Sachin Khedekar and Bhalchandra Kadam, Harish Dudhade, Onkar Raut, Bharat Savale, Nitin Bhajan as Zende’s trusted team, Girija Oak and Vaibhav Mangale in pivotal roles. The high-stakes hunt races through cities and culminates in Goa, where sharp instincts and seamless teamwork lead to Carl’s dramatic capture.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Manoj Bajpayee&nbsp;said that Zende’s bravery and humour attracted him to the role. &nbsp;“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.”</p><h2>Watch the trailer of Inspector Zende here: &nbsp;</h2>

<p>Director Chinmay D. Mandlekar added, “Inspector Zende’s real-life chase had all the ingredients of a gripping film: a larger-than-life cop, a slippery antagonist, and an unforgettable era of Mumbai. But what really stayed with me was the camaraderie, the small moments, and the quirks of the people involved. The trailer hints at the chase, but the film lets you live every beat of it. I can’t wait for audiences to experience  it on Netflix.” </p><p> </p><p>The film has been backed by Om Raut and will premiere on OTT platform Netflix on September 5. </p>

The trailer of Inspector Zende was unveiled on Monday and gives a glimpse of a quirky comedy featuring Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh in the lead. 

Before the era of CCTV and cyber forensics, Mumbai had Inspector Madhukar Zende — a street-smart cop who cracked impossible cases with grit, gut, and a dash of jugaad (resourcefulness). Loosely inspired by a true story, Netflix’s upcoming film Inspector Zende brings to life the unbelievable pursuit of an everyday cop who became a legend by tracking down the elusive “Swimsuit Killer,” Carl Bhojraj — not once, but twice. The film’s trailer was unveiled on Monday, and from the looks of it, the film promises to be a quirky, nostalgia-filled, relentless chase that celebrates a hero whose story deserves to be told. About Inspector Zende Manoj Bajpayee leads as the sharp-witted Zende, locked in a tense game of cat and mouse chase with Jim Sarbh’s charming yet elusive Carl Bhojraj. The character seems to be loosely based on infamous serial killer Charles Sobhraj. The film also features Sachin Khedekar and Bhalchandra Kadam, Harish Dudhade, Onkar Raut, Bharat Savale, Nitin Bhajan as Zende’s trusted team, Girija Oak and Vaibhav Mangale in pivotal roles. The high-stakes hunt races through cities and culminates in Goa, where sharp instincts and seamless teamwork lead to Carl’s dramatic capture. Manoj Bajpayee said that Zende’s bravery and humour attracted him to the role. “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.” Watch the trailer of Inspector Zende here:

<p>The trailer of Inspector Zende was unveiled on Monday and gives a glimpse of a quirky comedy featuring Manoj Bajpayee and Jim Sarbh in the lead.&nbsp;</p>

Inspector Zende trailer: Manoj Bajpayee plays a sharp cop out to nab charming killer Jim Sarbh

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Inspector Zende to The Serpent: Movies and shows based on Charles Sobhraj

Who is Inspector Zende? Supercop who caught Charles Sobhraj twice

Inspector Zende trailer: Manoj Bajpayee plays a sharp cop out to nab Jim Sarbh