The film The Buckingham Murders, directed by Hansal Mehta and featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan in the lead role, has sparked interest with its tale of a detective investigating the murder of a child in England. Given its realistic tone and investigative framework, many viewers ask: Is this film based on a true story? The answer: not exactly the movie is fictional, though inspired by real themes and settings.
What the Film’s About
The story revolves around Jasmeet “Jass” Bhamra (Kareena Kapoor Khan), a British-Indian detective who is dealing with personal trauma after losing her own child. She is assigned to a case in Buckinghamshire, UK: the disappearance or murder of a ten-year-old Indian-origin child in a small town. As she digs deeper, hidden secrets of families, drugs, ethnicity and identity emerge.
Real vs Fiction
Here’s how the facts line up:
- ✅ Setting in Buckinghamshire and child-murder investigation: The film is set in a real UK region (Buckinghamshire) and deals with the disappearance/murder of a child.
- ❌ Storyline and characters: The exact plot, characters (Jass, the victim, families involved) and murder mystery are fictional. There are no verified records indicating the film is based on a specific real case.
- ⚠️ Inspiration from real themes: Director Hansal Mehta has said the film draws on real-life themes — grief, identity, community tensions, and policing in small-town settings.
What the Director Says
Hansal Mehta admitted that while the core murder mystery is not tied to a single documented event, the film was influenced by “multiple real-world themes” he explored. He emphasised authenticity in the setting — shot in Buckinghamshire — and the emotional landscape of the central character.
Kareena Kapoor Khan also clarified that the character and film are not based on one real person or case. Instead, the film uses a fictional detective story to explore universal emotions, especially that of a grieving mother.
Why It Feels Real
Several elements lend the film a sense of realism:
- Filming on location in Buckinghamshire and depiction of a small-town UK police environment.
- Use of a detective protagonist dealing with personal loss adds a human, emotional dimension common in real-life investigations.
- Themes of multicultural identity, immigrant experience in the UK, and cross-community tensions reflect genuine social dynamics.
Final Verdict
No, the film is not a factual retelling of a specific case. It is a fictional narrative, albeit one grounded in realistic themes and a real-world setting.
For viewers: treat the film as a dramatic crime thriller that uses real-life sensibilities not as a documentary or true crime story. It draws from real emotions and contexts, but the murder, detective journey and characters are products of creative fiction.
Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.
