Rani Mukerji is back as the no-nonsense cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. Mardaani 3, the third installment in Yash Raj Films’ acclaimed female-led franchise, released in cinemas on January 30, 2026, and has since made its way to Netflix for audiences who missed the theatrical run. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, the Hindi-language action thriller picks up the legacy of one of Bollywood’s most celebrated crime drama series and brings a darker, more unsettling chapter to the screen.
About Mardaani 3
Yash Raj Films officially announced the project on 13 December 2024, with Rani Mukerji confirmed to reprise her role as Shivani Shivaji Roy. Abhiraj Minawala was roped in to direct the film, replacing Gopi Puthran, the writer and director of Mardaani 2.
The story revolves around the mysterious disappearance of 93 young girls, aged between eight and ten, over a span of three months. As Shivani begins her investigation, she uncovers a horrifying nexus involving a beggar mafia and an illegal medical operation.
Mallika Prasad was cast as the antagonist, becoming the first female villain in the franchise. Janki Bodiwala was cast in a pivotal role. Principal photography began in March 2025 and concluded in November 2025. Filming took place primarily in Delhi and Mumbai, with additional scenes shot in Haryana, Noida, Pondicherry, and Colombo.
The script was written by Aayush Gupta, fresh off the international success of Netflix’s “The Railway Men.” The music was composed by Sarthak Kalyani, with cinematography by Artur Żurawski.
“Mardaani” stands as Hindi cinema’s most successful solo female-led franchise, earning both commercial success and critical acclaim over its decade-long run.
| Artists | Role / Character |
|---|---|
| Rani Mukerji | SSP Shivani Shivaji Roy – Lead Actress |
| Mallika Prasad | Amma (Antagonist) – Lead Actress / Villain |
| Janki Bodiwala | Pivotal Role – Supporting Actress |
| Mikhail Yawalkar | Supporting Role – Supporting Actor |
| Jisshu Sengupta | Supporting Role – Supporting Actor |
| Jimpa Sangpo Bhutia | Supporting Role – Supporting Actor |
Mardaani 3 Review & Rating
Mardaani 3 drew a range of responses from critics, with most acknowledging the strength of its lead performance even when divided on the film’s script and second-half execution.
Bollywood Hungama – 3.5/5: A critic from Bollywood Hungama described the film as a powerful, intense, and hard-hitting thriller that stays true to the soul of the franchise, highlighting Mukerji’s performance, the direction, screenplay, and background score — while criticising the twists in the second half. (Source: bollywoodhungama.com)
NDTV – 3.5/5: Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV praised Rani Mukerji’s performance as a power-packed, unblemished star turn that should rank among the finest of her 30-year acting career. (Source: ndtv.com)
The Indian Express – 2/5: Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express felt that Rani Mukerji could not do much with the degree of over-writing and predictable plot-points in the film. (Source: indianexpress.com)
Times of India – 3.5/5: Dhaval Roy of The Times of India wrote that while Mardaani 3 isn’t without flaws, it still holds as a solid franchise outing anchored by Rani Mukerji’s performance. (Source: timesofindia.com)
Firstpost – 4/5: Lachmi Deb Roy of Firstpost praised the performances of both Rani Mukerji and Mallika Prasad. (Source: firstpost.com)
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 60% of 10 critics’ reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10. On IMDB, the film holds a user rating of 7.5/10.
Mardaani 3 Box Office Collection
According to reports, Mardaani 3 was made with a budget of ₹60 crore. Overall, Mardaani 3 collected ₹78.73 crore at the worldwide box office. In India, it collected ₹52.99 crore net (₹64.7 crore gross), and in overseas markets it grossed ₹14.03 crore.
Despite almost a 50-day-long run in India and competition from Border 2, O’Romeo, and other releases, the film could only recover 88% of its total investment, concluding its domestic journey with a deficit of around ₹7 crore.
That said, Mardaani 3 has successfully surpassed the collections of the original film in the franchise. While the first Mardaani (2014) concluded with an India Net of ₹35.65 crore and a worldwide gross of ₹59.30 crore, Mardaani 3 outperformed it by earning ₹50.78 crore Net in India and reaching a worldwide gross of ₹75.10 crore making it the highest-grossing entry in the franchise.
Mardaani 3 OTT Release
After its theatrical run, Mardaani 3 arrived on OTT platform Netflix on March 27, 2026. Following the widely adopted eight-week theatrical-to-digital window, the film transitioned to OTT after its release in cinemas on January 30, 2026.
| Aspects | Details |
|---|---|
| Theatrical Release Date | January 30, 2026 |
| OTT Release Date | March 27, 2026 |
| OTT Platform | Netflix |
| Watch Link | netflix.com/in/title/mardaani-3 |
| Production House | Yash Raj Films |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Action Thriller / Crime Drama |
| Runtime | Approx. 140 minutes |
| Budget | ₹60 crore |
| India Net Collection (Lifetime) | ₹52.99 crore |
| Worldwide Gross (Lifetime) | ₹77–78 crore (approx.) |
| IMDB Rating | 7.5/10 |
| Rotten Tomatoes | 60% (6.4/10 avg.) |
Key Highlights
- Franchise record: Mardaani 3 became the highest-grossing film in the entire Mardaani franchise, surpassing both its predecessors.
- First female villain: Mallika Prasad was cast as the antagonist, becoming the first female villain in the franchise.
- Rani Mukerji’s performance: Multiple critics singled out her portrayal of SSP Shivani Shivaji Roy as among the best of her career.
- Grittier direction: Abhiraj Minawala brings a grittier, more procedural tone to the franchise, with storytelling that leans heavily into realism.
- Socially relevant theme: The film tackles child trafficking and illegal medical operations, making it one of the most socially pointed entries in the series.
Now on Netflix: Available globally from March 27, 2026, making it accessible to a much wider audience beyond its theatrical reach.
Takeaway
Mardaani 3 arrives as a competent, if uneven, addition to one of Hindi cinema’s most consistent franchises. Rani Mukerji’s commanding screen presence remains the film’s greatest asset, and Mallika Prasad’s turn as the first female villain in the series adds a fresh dynamic to the franchise formula. While critics were divided on the script’s execution particularly in the second half most agreed that the film delivers on its core promise: a gripping crime thriller rooted in real social concerns.
With a worldwide box office gross of approximately ₹77 crore, the Mardaani 3 box office collection makes it the highest-earning film in the franchise, though it narrowly fell short of recovering its ₹60 crore production budget theatrically. Now streaming on Netflix, the film is poised to find a significantly larger audience beyond its cinematic run. For fans of the Mardaani series, female-led Indian crime dramas, and socially conscious thrillers, it remains a worthwhile watch.
