Mumbai: A mesmerizing image, with a hint of mischief in her eyes — yet this time, a dangerous hush accompanies that very smile. Today, JioHotstar unveiled the captivating trailer for Mrs. Deshpande, a six-episode psychological thriller produced by Applause Entertainment in partnership with Kukunoor Movies, set to debut on December 19, 2025. Starring Madhuri Dixit in a raw, de-glamorized, and deeply unsettling role—an impactful departure from her acclaimed on-screen identity—Mrs. Deshpande** portrays her as a woman whose silence can be as threatening as her smile. Her performance is haunting, layered, and unlike anything audiences have experienced from her before. With its atmospheric tension and emotionally charged narrative, this series positions JioHotstar to close the year on an extraordinary note, driven by storytelling that lingers long after the final scene fades.
Set in a world where appearances deceive, Mrs. Deshpande follows Mumbai as it reels from murders echoing the signature of a long-captured serial killer. Forced into an uneasy alliance, the police turn to the original killer, a gentle, unassuming woman hiding a far darker truth. As buried histories and subtle betrayals surface, tension builds through the smallest, quietest moments. What seems ordinary begins to crack open, because to catch the copycat… they need the original.
Adapted from the French thriller La Mante and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, the series stars Siddharth Chandekar, Priyanshu Chatterjee, and a strong ensemble. Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Kukunoor Movies, Mrs. Deshpande is a tense exploration of identity, manipulation, and the eerie power of a woman who says little—but reveals everything.
Madhuri Dixit shares, “Mrs. Deshpande is a journey into the quiet power of a woman who seems ordinary but harbors a dangerous mind. Every glance, every pause holds meaning, and exploring this restrained, intense side of her was both challenging and exhilarating. I’m thrilled for audiences to witness a character that’s layered, unpredictable, and very different from anything I’ve done before”
Director Nagesh Kukunoor adds, “The trailer gives you an idea for the tone of what the show is really about – a character driven serial killer thriller. In Mrs. Deshpande I’ve tried to create one of those memorable grey heroes who the audiences root for. And Madhuri Dixit does total justice to the title role and then some!”
Alok Jain, JioStar said, “Mrs. Deshpande represents the bold, emotionally truthful storytelling audiences are seeking today. We knew Madhuri Dixit was the one for this role because we wanted to completely break the mold. Instead of her familiar glamorous screen presence, she delivers a stark, deglamourised and quietly chilling performance that reveals a side of her craft audiences have never seen.”
“The series stands apart because it elevates the crime genre with precision, psychological depth, and a haunting emotional core. It also marks a strategic move to build premium, female-led crime IP for streaming audiences. At JioHotstar, we aim to bring stories that provoke and stay with viewers, and Mrs. Deshpande does exactly that,” he added.
Sameer Nair, Managing Director, Applause said, “The creative partnership between JioHotstar and Applause has grown stronger with every story we’ve told together. This year’s hattrick — Criminal Justice, Search: The Naina Murder Case, and now Mrs. Deshpande reflects our shared commitment to premium storytelling with scale, depth, and intent. With Nagesh Kukunoor’s masterful direction and Madhuri Dixit stepping into one of her most unexpected avatars, Mrs. Deshpande is a psychological thriller that subverts expectation at every turn”
Is she helping catch the copycat… or orchestrating the hunt for her own hidden agenda? Watch Mrs. Deshpande from 19th December onwards only on JioHotstar
