Madhuri Dixit's new thriller series, Mrs. Deshpande, which premiered on JioHotstar on December 19, 2025, has captivated audiences with its gripping storyline and Dixit's compelling performance as a complex character with hidden layers. What many may not know is that Mrs. Deshpande is not just an Indian adaptation of the French thriller La Mante; it also shares its source material with a South Korean series titled Queen Mantis, which aired earlier in 2025.
Mrs. Deshpande, directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, tells the story of Seema Deshpande, a convicted serial killer serving her sentence, when a series of copycat murders begin to occur, mimicking her past crimes. The police, led by IPS officer Arun Khatri, seek her help to catch the new killer. Deshpande agrees to assist but on one condition: that she works with ACP Tejas Phadke, her estranged son. As they delve deeper into the investigation, the mystery of the murders and the killer's plot thickens, with suspense building in every scene. The series explores the complicated relationship between a mother and son forced to confront their past while trying to stop a new killer.
The South Korean adaptation, Queen Mantis (Korean: 사마귀: 살인자의 외출), follows a similar premise. Jung Yi-shin, nicknamed "The Mantis," is a notorious serial killer who murdered five men 20 years ago and has been imprisoned ever since. When a copycat surfaces, imitating her exact methods, the police turn to her for help. Yi-shin agrees, but insists on working only with her estranged son, Detective Cha Soo-yeol, who has resented her crimes his entire life. Queen Mantis delves into the intense child abuse Yi-shin suffered, revealing how she became a killer. Her first adult homicide was of Soo-yeol's abusive, alcoholic father, who terrorized their family. The series also focuses on Soo-yeol's internal conflict between rejecting his mother and his desire for her approval.
Both Mrs. Deshpande and Queen Mantis are adapted from the French miniseries La Mante (2017). The original French story revolves around Jeanne Deber, a famous serial killer known as "The Mantis" who terrorized Paris 25 years ago. When a psychopath starts committing murders inspired by her crimes, Deber offers her expertise to the police to help hunt down the copycat. Like the other adaptations, she has one condition: to work only with her estranged son, Detective Damien Carrot.
While all three series share the same core premise, they each bring their unique cultural and stylistic elements to the story. Queen Mantis, for example, is described as a mystery-thriller-police procedural that incorporates elements of Korean drama. Mrs. Deshpande infuses the narrative with Maharashtrian culture and cuisine, adding a local flavor to the thriller.
Mrs. Deshpande features a stellar cast, including Madhuri Dixit as Mrs. Deshpande, Siddharth Chandekar as ACP Tejas Phadke, and Priyanshu Chatterjee as Commissioner Arun Khatri. Dixit's performance has been praised for its nuance and depth, as she portrays a character with many layers. Queen Mantis stars Go Hyun-jung as Jung Yi-shin and Jang Dong-yoon as Cha Soo-yeol.
