EMOTION OVER SHOCK

In her upcoming JioHotstar series Mrs. Deshpande, Madhuri Dixit Nene steps into unfamiliar territory, choosing emotional complexity over graphic sensationalism

Madhuri Dixit Nene

Madhuri Dixit says her approach to portraying a convicted serial killer in Mrs. Deshpande was never about shock or spectacle, but about understanding the emotional layers of a deeply complex woman. Speaking in a recent media interview, the actress emphasised that the series consciously steers away from graphic violence.

“The responsibility is always there. But we are actors, we play different kinds of roles and we cannot be responsible for everything. As a director, he (Nagesh Kukunoor) was very clear that it's not the violence that we're talking about, it's not the killings, it's the emotion, it's not like gore and all,” the actress said.

According to her, the narrative focuses on character, revelations, and psychological depth rather than explicit imagery. “It's the story, it's her character, it's the revelations and what's happened with her, those are the important parts of the story. So, when people watch the series, they'll realise that it's not about just that (violence). We were never going for shock value,” she added.

Director Nagesh Kukunoor echoed this sentiment, noting that the creative choices were deliberate from the outset. “It was a very, very conscious choice to make sure that we kept the drama and the twists and the relationships working as opposed to the gore and the violence,” he explained.

 Pic credit: Madhuri's Instagram

Madhuri admitted that the offer initially surprised her. Being approached to play a serial killer was far removed from her established screen persona, but the script quickly altered her perception. “It's not just about the killing, but it's more of the emotion, and that's what I liked about the character,” the 58-year-old actress said.

Her confidence in the project was further strengthened by the team behind it. “With Nagesh being the director and Applause Entertainment being the producers, I had faith in them that they would make it, relatable, something that people can watch and make the character believable, it won't be like outlandish or what's going on, and put it in an Indian context,” she added.

Mrs. Deshpande is loosely inspired by the acclaimed French series La Mante (The Mantis), which follows Jeanne Deber, a notorious serial killer who assists the police in catching a copycat murderer—on the condition that she works only with her estranged son. While the premise borrows from the original, the Indian adaptation reimagines the story within a distinctly local and emotional framework.

The series is set to premiere on JioHotstar on December 19. Madhuri Dixit was last seen in the horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024), alongside Kartik Aaryan, Triptii Dimri, and Vidya Balan, which went on to become one of the year’s highest-grossing Hindi films.

 Pic credit: Madhuri's Instagram