Madhuri Dixit returns to TV with dark thriller ‘Mrs Deshpande’

Madhuri Dixit is set to return to the small screen with the JioHotstar thriller series "Mrs Deshpande", a remake of the French show "La Mante". The actor stunned fans on Wednesday by releasing a tense 20-second teaser that hints at one of her darkest roles yet.

The clip begins with Madhuri removing her jewellery and make-up, before cutting sharply to a shot of her in a prison uniform, wearing a quiet, unsettling smirk. The teaser positions her as a formidable serial killer — a dramatic departure from the glamorous roles she is known for.

Earlier in the day, Madhuri fuelled speculation with a cryptic Instagram post that reworked lyrics from her iconic songs, including "Ek Do Teen" and "Bholi Si Surat", accompanied by a simple caption: "Coming soon."

Speaking at the IIFA Awards earlier this year, Madhuri said the role appealed to her because it allowed her to explore "a different part" of herself. "There's no conscious effort as such, but the role came my way and I thought I would love to do it. I'm looking forward to it," she said.

Directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, "Mrs Deshpande" adapts "La Mante", which centres on a notorious serial killer who agrees to help investigators track down a copycat — on the condition that she works only with her estranged son, forcing an emotionally charged reunion.

The release date for "Mrs Deshpande" has yet to be announced.