Review: Is Inspector Zende Manoj Bajpayee’s Best Police Role? We Rank His Top Cop Roles

Mumbai, September 5, 2025 – Manoj Bajpayee is one of India’s best actors. He is famous for playing many different kinds of roles. From a gangster to a spy to a common man, he can do it all.

Today, his new film, Inspector Zende, has been released on Netflix. This film is getting a lot of attention.

People are loving his role as a real-life police officer, Inspector Madhukar Zende. It has started a new discussion: Where does this role rank in his long list of amazing police characters? Let’s take a look.

Inspector Zende (2025)

This new film is about a true story. It is about the real police officer, Madhukar Zende, who caught the famous criminal Charles Sobhraj. The movie is not a serious crime thriller. It is a comedy-thriller.

Manoj Bajpayee plays Zende with a lot of charm and wit. He is not a super-hero cop. He is a simple, smart officer doing his job. He brings a lot of humanity to the character. His performance is getting very good reviews.

Critics say he is “effortlessly brilliant” in the role. The film’s light tone makes it different from other police movies. It is a fresh take on the classic cop story.

The Family Man (2019-present)

This is perhaps Manoj Bajpayee’s most famous role. He plays Srikant Tiwari. He is an undercover spy. But he is also a middle-class man with a family. He has a wife, two children, and a boring day job.

This series is a mix of action, comedy, and family drama. Manoj Bajpayee’s acting is perfect. He is tough when fighting terrorists. He is funny when dealing with his family. The series is very popular. It is a big reason why he is so well-known today.

Srikant Tiwari is a character everyone can relate to. He is a hero but also a common man.

Shool (1999)

This is an old film, but a very important one. Manoj Bajpayee played an honest police officer named Samar Pratap Singh. He is posted in Bihar. He fights against a powerful politician-criminal.

This film is very different from Inspector Zende. It is very serious and dark. It shows the struggles of an honest cop in a corrupt system.

Manoj Bajpayee’s performance in this film was powerful. It made a big mark on the audience. Many people say this is one of the best police films ever made in India.

Bhonsle (2018)

This is a film that not many people have seen. But it is very special. Manoj Bajpayee plays a retired police constable named Ganpatrao Bhonsle. He is a quiet and lonely man. He lives in a chawl in Mumbai. He watches as his neighbors fight with each other. He tries to help a girl and her brother.

This is not a typical police story. It is a slow, emotional drama. Manoj Bajpayee’s acting is very subtle. He uses his eyes and body language to show all the emotions. This role shows his depth as an actor. It is one of his most artistic and respected performances.

Our Verdict: Ranking the Best Manoj Bajpayee’s Police Roles

So, where does Inspector Zende fit in?

In Our Opinion, The Family Man is still number one. It is a series that changed the game for Indian web shows.

Srikant Tiwari is an iconic character. Shool and Bhonsle come next. They show Manoj Bajpayee’s range. Shool is a powerful, angry cop. Bhonsle is a silent, sad cop. Both are amazing.

Inspector Zende is a good addition to this list. It is a lighter film. It shows a fun side of Manoj Bajpayee as a cop. It is a refreshing watch. It may not be his best performance ever. But it is a very charming and memorable one.

It proves once again that Manoj Bajpayee is a master of his craft. He can make any role his own. He is a true treasure of Indian cinema.

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