Mardaani 3 is one of the most talked about Hindi action thrillers of 2026, where Rani Mukerji reprises her role as Shivani Shivaji Roy. The film is the third installment of the Mardaani trilogy and is produced by Yash Raj Films.
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Mardaani 3 release date and announcement
Mardaani 3 is scheduled to release in theatres on 30 January 2026, earlier scheduled for 27 February. Yash Raj Films announced the date was pushed forward to 10 January, and the trailer was released on 12 January, creating a lot of excitement among the audience. The film’s producer Aditya Chopra described it as “a bloody battle between Shivani’s love and the forces of darkness”.
Cast and Crew: New Characters Alongside Rani’s Lead Role
Rani Mukherjee is once again seen in the role of SSP Shivani Shivaji Roy, who is known as the most powerful female police officer in India. Mallika Prasad plays the role of the main villain Amma, who is the leader of the beggar mafia and the first female villain in the series. The other cast includes Janki Bariwala (Constable Fatima), Prajesh Kashyap (Ramanujan), Indranil Bhattacharya (Ambassador Sahu), Mikhail Yawalkar (Inspector Sodhi) and Jisu Sengupta (Shibani’s husband Dr. Vikram Roy). The director is Abhiraj Minawala, who has replaced Gopi Puthran, and the writers are Ayush Gupta, Deepak Kingrani.
Plot Summary: The terrifying mystery of the girls’ kidnapping
Indian diplomat Sahu’s daughter Ruhani is kidnapped in Bulandshahr while she is playing hide and seek with Jahimali. Shivani busts a drug trafficking network in the Sundarbans and leads the case. Amma’s beggar mafia kidnaps 93 8-9 year old girls who are used for illegal cancer drug trials. Shivani, despite being suspended, goes to Sri Lanka to catch the villains, injects Ramanujan with the virus and rescues Jahimali. The film tells the story of child trafficking and systematic exploitation.
Production and Shooting: Big Projects for 2025
Production was announced in December 2024 and shooting took place from March to November 2025. Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana, Noida, Pondicherry and Colombo were used as locations. Rani Mukerji said it was “dark, deadly and brutal” and a milestone in her 30-year career. The single track “Babbar Sherni” was released on 20 January, with music and lyrics by Sarathak Kalyani.
Trailer and Promotion: Uproar among the audience
Mardaani 3 trailer is 3 minutes and 16 seconds long, which shows the horror of child trafficking and is full of action sequences by Rani. It has received millions of views after being shared on Instagram, with the slogan “Race Against Time, No Mercy”. In Rani’s podcast interview, she discussed Shivani’s moral compass and the importance of real location. The promotional song was very much social issue-oriented.
Box Office Collection: Successful Run
The Mardaani 3 film grossed 5.95 crores on its opening day and 38.94 crores globally in its first week. Lifetime India net 49-51 crores, Worldwide 74-75 crores, making it the third highest grossing Hindi film of 2026. Week 1: 25 crores, stable run till week 6. Rani’s second highest grossing film.
| Week | India Net (crores) | Overseas (crores) |
| Week 1 | 25.00 | – |
| Week 2 | 14.80 | 14.25 |
| Total | 49.40 | 74.75 |
Criticism and reviews: Mixed response but praise for the Queen
Rotten Tomatoes has 60% positive reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. Bollywood Hungama 3.5/5, NDTV 3.5/5 – Rani’s powerful performance was praised. India Today 3/5, Times of India 3.5/5, but the twists in the second half were criticized. The Hollywood Reporter said “Predictable but watchable for Rani”.
TV & OTT Release: Coming to Netflix
After the theatrical run, it will be streaming on Netflix from March 27, 2026. Maintaining an 8-week window.
Controversy: Allegations of propaganda
The Delhi Police protested the “800 Missing Children” campaign in Delhi during its release, which Yash Raj denied. This is believed to be linked to the film’s social message.
The tradition and future of the Mardaani series
The first Mardaani (2014) is about human trafficking, the second (2019) is about serial rapists. It is the most successful solo female lead franchise in Hindi cinema. Rani received the President’s Medal as Shivani, and got the Special Task Force. The audience is waiting for the next part.
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