The Unregulated Lens
Mar 12, 2017
No license, no limits, and no laws. While California requires a permit to change a lightbulb, India allows anyone with a scooter and a phone to be a detective. Explore the legal void of the Indian private eye.
Hubris or Fact
Feb 12, 2017
Is she India’s “Lady Durga” or just a brilliant strategist? Explore how Rajani Pandit turned societal misogyny into her greatest investigative weapon.
The Pandit Legacy
Jan 22, 2017
“Detectives are born, not made.” Discover how Rajani Pandit’s 25-year career inspired a wave of female-led agencies and why she refuses to trade her mission for money.
The “Bobby Jasoos” Effect
Jan 8, 2017
Can a Bollywood comedy change the fate of a profession? Discover how the 2014 film Bobby Jasoos turned a spotlight on Rajani Pandit and broke the “damsel in distress” mold of Indian cinema.
The Solitary Watch
Dec 25, 2016
“I love what I do.” Discover why Rajani Pandit, the “Lady James Bond” of Mumbai, chose a 24/7 career over a traditional marriage and how she views the complexities of love.
Behind the Lens
Dec 11, 2016
“The tracking of live people was frightening and tense.” Go behind the scenes of the elusive documentary Lady James Bond with an exclusive interview with director Dinkar Rao.
The Public Ledger
Nov 27, 2016
Two books, fifty-seven awards, and one missing documentary. Sifting through Rajani Pandit's accolades reveals a legacy as prolific as it is difficult to pin down.
Ethical Ambiguity
Nov 13, 2016
No laws, no licenses, and no limits? Explore the ethical tightrope of India’s private detectives, where the line between “social service” and “spycraft” is written by the agents themselves.
The Pandit Doctrine
Oct 23, 2016
Fictional detectives have sidekicks; real detectives have networks. Explore Rajani Pandit’s sharp-eyed advice on disguises, the necessity of “good lying,” and why she tells her clients to trust no one.
A Diverse Portfolio
Oct 9, 2016
Missing persons, corporate spies, and the “love detective.” Explore the staggering variety of cases handled by Rajani Pandit’s Mumbai agency and the mystery of her 75,000-case record.
Undercover in the Shadows
Sept 25, 2016
Six months in disguise. A mechanical beep that nearly cost Rajani Pandit everything. A self-inflicted wound to escape a killer. This is the case that made Rajani Pandit a legend in Mumbai’s underworld.
The Fearless Eye
Sept 11, 2016
From the lack of restrooms in male-dominated offices to the dangers of undercover work, the path for Indian women is rarely paved. Discover how Rajani Pandit’s unique philosophy on life and death made her an unstoppable force in investigation.
Against the Current
Aug 28, 2016
“This is not a woman’s job.” From her own father’s doubts to being blacklisted by local newspapers, Rajani Pandit faced a society designed to keep her out. Discover how she turned a “no” into a national legacy.
The Domestic Double-Cross
Aug 14, 2016
A daughter-in-law accused. A son caught in the act. A web of lies that only a detective’s eye could untangle. This is the case that convinced Rajani Pandit to turn her intuition into a profession.
The Genesis of a Detective
July 24, 2016
Before she was India’s most famous P.I., she was a college student with a sharp eye for trouble. Discover the 1983 case that transformed Rajani Pandit from a literature major into a trailblazing investigator.
Bombay’s First Female Private Detective
July 10, 2016
What happens when the daughter of a legendary CID inspector finds his professional indifference unbearable? She becomes a pioneer. Meet Rajani Pandit, the woman who turned neighborhood grievances into a career as India’s first female detective.
Shadows of the East
June 26, 2016
Growing up in New Delhi, I knew Sherlock and Poirot, but where were the real Indian detectives? Join me as I move past the "second fiddle" and hunt for the origins of India’s first female PI.