Bollywood’s ‘Dhak Dhak’ girl, Madhuri Dixit, has entertained audiences with her mainstream commercial hits for decades, occasionally dabbling in comedy. However, the actress has seldom taken on a complex role with shades of grey. The role of a serial killer in the just-released JioHotstar series Mrs Deshpande, may break that long-held image.

In her 40-year career, Madhuri has balanced her mainstream roles with a few parallel ones. If Dil, Beta, Raja, and Hum Aapke Hain Koun made her the undisputed queen of Bollywood, films like Anjaam, Mrityudand and Lajja established her acting prowess.

Meanwhile, one of Bollywood’s most successful actresses in half-a-century, Madhuri returns in a never-seen-before role with Mrs Deshpande, a six-part series, based on French thriller La Mante, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.

The combination of excellent direction, acting, and tightly-woven script is being well-received by the viewers. Here’s what netizens are saying about Mrs Deshpande.

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Madhuri’s silence does all the talking

“There is something deeply unsettling about Madhuri Dixit’s stillness in Mrs Deshpande. Her face barely moves—no melodrama, no theatrical excess—yet her eyes carry a lifetime of pain, rage, and calculation. The trauma feels fossilised. And that is precisely what makes Mrs Deshpande so gripping,” wrote a user on X.

Hailing Madhuri’s casting as a serial killer under the able direction of Nagesh Kukunoor, a netizen wrote that the actress’s range in the series is ‘insane’.

“Madhuri Dixit is the reason to watch Mrs Deshpande. Some viewers may find certain story beats predictable or wish for crisper cinematography, but for fans of slow-burn, character-driven crime dramas, the series delivers an unsettling experience,” an X post reviewing the series read.

Nagesh Kukunoor’s confident direction elevates the series

Avoiding sensationalism, Kukunoor’s subtle yet confident direction creates the right psychological tension.

“The cat-and-mouse dynamic is smartly constructed, and the series remains tightly edited for the most part,” read a review.

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Not a comfortable watch

Some social media users noted that the series isn’t designed to comfort or entertain casually, but “it is a moody, psychological study of rage, trauma, and control—elevated by a powerhouse performance from an actor who refuses to rely on legacy charm.”

“Imperfect but compelling, the series marks a refreshing and daring genre shift for Madhuri Dixit and reaffirms Nagesh Kukunoor’s strength in telling intimate, human stories — no matter how dark,” the comment read further.

Crappy show

Not all are impressed and some have found both the performances and the script unimpressive. “Only Nagesh Kukunoor can make a great show like Rajiv Gandhi and then follow it with a crap like Deshpande and get over this Madhuri Dixit crush. She can’t even act anymore,” a review read.

Mrs Deshpande starts streaming on JioHotstar December 19 onwards.