Detective Sherdil Movie Review: Stylish, offbeat and unapologetically flamboyant, Detective Sherdil, directed by Ravi Chhabriya, crafts an eccentric whodunit that doesn’t merely invite you in—it pulls you in, trench coat and all, into its twist-laden labyrinth. Anchored by Diljit Dosanjh’s magnetic screen presence and supported by a stellar ensemble including Diana Penty, Boman Irani, Banita Sandhu, Ratna Pathak Shah, Chunky Panday, and Sumeet Vyas, the film dances between the familiar and the unexpected. Though parts of the mystery are easy to pre-empt, what keeps you tethered are the curious detours, the escalating stakes, and Diljit’s chameleon-like control over tone and tempo. Detective Sherdil may stumble at a few corners, but it wears its quirks like a badge—balancing the razor edge between absurdity and intrigue with a wink and a flourish. It’s not always smart, but it’s always stylish—and sometimes, that’s enough to hold you captive.
The narrative hits the ground running by offering a glimpse into the origin of our protagonist’s name—Sherdil, given by his parents, laced with childhood warmth and comic-book whimsy. Fast forward to Budapest, where Sherdil (Diljit Dosanjh) is basking in the afterglow of a successfully solved case. True to his eccentric flair, he marks each solved mystery with an Instagram reel and a well-earned vacation. But as fate would have it, his downtime is short-lived. In the middle of a club night, he is summoned by his superiors and asked to take on a new case. Initially reluctant, Sherdil changes his mind when he learns that Natasha (Diana Penty), an officer he admires, specifically requested his involvement.
What seems to be a straightforward murder spirals into a murky maze. Billionaire telecom mogul Pankaj Bhatti (Boman Irani) is assassinated in broad daylight, gunned down by Luca (Grant Huggair), who is promptly arrested. Bhatti leaves behind his commanding wife Rajeshwari (Ratna Pathak Shah), his flamboyant son Angad (Sumeet Vyas), daughter-in-law Elizabeth (Sarah Barlondo), and his deaf and mute daughter Shanti (Banita Sandhu), the apple of his eye. Suspicion immediately casts a wide net, including eccentric relatives like Bodhi Mama (Chunky Panday), Bhatti’s brother-in-law—dismissed by some as a glorified gardener—and even the family dog, Rabbit Bhatti.
But there’s more than meets the eye. When Bhatti was killed, his driver Jaipal was mysteriously absent, and the murder took place in a CCTV-free zone—too convenient to be a coincidence. Sherdil deduces early on that this isn’t just a crime of passion but of profit. After Bhatti’s funeral, the reading of his will sends shockwaves: 10% each of his fortune goes to Bodhi and Rabbit, but the bulk—an overwhelming 80%—is left to Purvak (Arjun Tanwar), Bhatti’s deaf and mute accountant and Shanti’s boyfriend, who is now also missing.
The investigation takes off, with Sherdil and Natasha navigating a carousel of suspects and secrets. From hushed boardroom betrayals to buried family resentments, the film unspools its mystery with a steady stream of clues and curveballs. Sherdil’s charm lies in his unorthodox methods—quirky, unpredictable, yet oddly effective.
What sets Detective Sherdil apart from traditional whodunits is its tonal rebellion. The film doesn’t wear the stern cloak of noir mystery; instead, it injects levity and sass into the genre, toeing the line between parody and procedural. There’s an undercurrent of humour that never undercuts the stakes but rather reinvents the rhythm—enough to keep things breezy without descending into farce.
Visually, the film is a delight. The cinematography plays with Dutch angles and jump cuts, with transitions that evoke the pages of a graphic novel. The editing is crisp, almost kinetic, and the palette leans into rich contrasts, making each frame pop with stylised vibrancy. The dialogues, too, are a standout—laced with dry wit, sharp retorts, and a playful rhythm that gives the film a distinctive voice. Sherdil’s repartee with Natasha, his casual taunts to suspects, and his self-aware commentary all contribute to the film’s unique texture.
At its midpoint—when most viewers feel confident about their own deductions—the script tosses in unexpected developments, some clever, some a tad conventional, but enough to keep the guessing game alive. The investigation isn’t just about who pulled the trigger, but why—and how far the ripples of that act travel through the legacy and psyche of the Bhatti empire.
However, the film isn’t without missteps. A recurring motif—Sherdil playing a mouth organ during moments of tension—tries too hard to be a signature quirk and ends up feeling forced, sometimes even jarring. While it aims to be symbolic, its overuse dulls the dramatic weight of key scenes. Had it been used more sparingly, as a subtle layer rather than a loud flourish, it might have carried more emotional heft.
Another shortfall lies in character depth—particularly Natasha. Though Diana Penty commands attention with her poised screen presence, her character remains woefully underdeveloped. She’s reduced to a supporting role in what could have been a dynamic partnership. Similarly, Sherdil’s investigative team barely gets screen time or meaningful arcs, which makes the world feel oddly lopsided.
That said, the performances shine across the board. Diljit Dosanjh is in terrific form—cool, funny, disarming, and effortlessly sharp. He shoulders the film with ease and charisma, making Sherdil memorable beyond just his fashion and flair. Diana Penty elevates Natasha despite the writing’s limitations, while Ratna Pathak Shah is a revelation—playing Rajeshwari with biting elegance and steely grace. Sumeet Vyas steps into an unusual role with aplomb, shedding his usual nice-guy aura. Banita Sandhu communicates volumes without words, letting her eyes do the heavy lifting. Arjun Tanwar impresses as the silent yet emotionally expressive Purvak, and Boman Irani brings gravitas to the doomed patriarch.
Despite a few tonal overindulgences and a missed opportunity for deeper character dynamics, Detective Sherdil is a refreshing entry into the Indian detective genre. Its visual flair, offbeat humour, and Diljit Dosanjh’s pitch-perfect performance make it an engaging watch. With a bit more narrative discipline and character investment, this could easily evolve into a franchise worth revisiting. Sherdil brings method to the mayhem and precision to the punchlines—making him a rare breed among cinematic sleuths. And that’s a mystery worth solving again.