Mrs. Deshpande marks Madhuri Dixit’s entry into the long-format streaming space, a move that in itself draws attention. Given her career has largely been defined by romantic roles and popular dance numbers, this series represents a clear departure from familiar territory and positions her in a markedly different narrative and visual space.
The series follows Mrs. Deshpande (Madhuri Dixit), a serial killer who has been incarcerated for nearly twenty-five years. When a new set of murders begins to replicate the pattern of her past crimes, the police bring her out of isolation to assist in identifying a copycat killer. The resulting narrative functions as a psychological engagement between law enforcement and a criminal who retains both control and influence despite imprisonment. The series is an Indian adaptation of the French miniseries La Mante (The Mantis), and adheres closely to the structural framework of that genre.
Categorised as a psychological crime thriller, the show relies on interrogation sequences, psychological exchanges, and incremental revelations rather than action-driven storytelling. Nagesh Kukunoor’s direction maintains a restrained tone, avoiding excessive stylisation or shock value. The approach keeps the series accessible, though at times it also limits the intensity associated with darker psychological thrillers.
From a genre perspective, the central idea is familiar. The concept of a criminal aiding the police in capturing another criminal has been explored extensively in Indian and international cinema. As a result, the series does not derive its impact from narrative novelty but from performance and presentation.
Madhuri Dixit’s portrayal of Mrs. Deshpande is deliberately controlled. A notable detail is the repurposing of her widely recognised smile, which here functions as a tool of intimidation rather than charm. This shift signals an effective use of audience expectation and reinforces the character’s psychological presence without overt exposition.
The supporting cast, including Siddharth Chandekar (as ACP Tejas Phadke) and Priyanshu Chatterjee (as Commissioner Arun Khatri), primarily serves to advance the investigation and contextualise the protagonist’s role within the system. Their characters are functional to the narrative and maintain pacing, though they are not written to command independent attention.
Across its episodes, Mrs. Deshpande sustains engagement through consistency rather than escalation. The concluding episode, however, appears compressed, resolving key threads at a quicker pace than the preceding narrative suggests.
Viewed as a whole, Mrs. Deshpande functions as a straightforward crime thriller that meets genre expectations without attempting to significantly expand them. Its primary distinction lies in its casting and controlled execution rather than innovation.
Web Series: Mrs Deshpande
Director: Nagesh Kukunoor
Cast: Madhuri Dixit, Siddharth Chandekar, Priyanshu Chatterjee
Episodes: 6 Episodes
Streaming On: JioHotstar
Release Date: 19 December 2025
Rating: 3.5/5
