Name: Mardaani 3
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Released: 2026-01-30
Rating: 6.9
Cast: Rani Mukerji, Janki Bodiwala, Mallika Prasad

In Mardaani 3, Rani Mukerji returns to reprise her unanimously loved character of ACP Shivani Shivaji Roy, a daredevil cop, in YRF’s blockbuster franchise. Shivani risks everything in a race against time to save 93 young missing girls of our country, again highlighting a heinous crime happening against girls in this highly-anticipated threequel of India’s only hit female-led franchise.

Mardaani 3

Bollywood Hungama

Times of India

India Today

NDTV

News18

Taran Adarsh

Pinkvilla

Firstpost

Aayush Gupta, Deepak Kingrani and Baljeet Singh Marwah's story is fantastic. Aayush Gupta's screenplay is thoroughly gripping. But the writing could have been sharper. Aayush Gupta's dialogues enhance the drama. The monologue of Shivani stands out.

Abhiraj Minawala's direction is impressive. He ensures that the film remains in the zone of MARDAANI [2014] and MARDAANI 2 [2019], both of which were not directed by him. This is also the lengthiest film of the series and yet, he ensures that there's not a single dull or boring moment. The story begins from the first frame. Shivani's entry is quite massy. The film gets better with the metro station sequence. The introduction of new characters adds to the fun. The interval point comes as a bolt from the blue. It raises the stakes in the second half. One particular scene that stands out at this hour is where Shivani is asked to apologize in the second half. The tension created at this juncture is commendable. The finale is truly clapworthy.

On the flipside, the writing has its share of loose ends in several places. There are too many twists in the second half and instead of impressing viewers, it might dilute the impact. Lastly, things also happen at convenience for Shivani despite being on suspension.
Mardaani 3 Movie Review Performances:
Rani Mukerji yet again delivers a solid performance that packs a punch. She is something else in the action and dramatic scenes, but watch out for her in the emotional moments. The actor is truly evolving with every film and in her 30th year as an actor, she proves that she continues to be one of the finest talents of Indian Cinema. Mallika Prasad is menacing as the antagonist; she is aptly cast. Janki Bodiwala (Fatima Anwar) of SHAITAAN [2024] fame doesn't have much to do initially, but leaves a mark in the second half. Prajesh Kashyap (Ramanujan) is the surprise of the film and delivers a terrific performance. Eindraneel Bhattacharya lends able support. From the team of Shivani, Jimpa Sangpo Bhutia (Jimpa) gets the maximum prominence while Digvijay Shrikant Rohidas (Inspector Jafar) and Mikhail Yawalkar (Inspector Sodhi) are fair. Avanee Joshi, Diorr Varghese, Aadesh Pandit, Jaipreet Singh (Puran Singh; DGP, NIA) and Naved Aslam (Vijender Sahni; Home Secretary) deliver decent performances.

Mardaani 3 Movie Review Conclusion:
On the whole, MARDAANI 3 is a powerful, intense, and hard-hitting thriller that stays true to the soul of the franchise, anchored by Rani Mukerji’s ferocious and emotionally razor-sharp performance. At the box office, the MARDAANI brand, strong word of mouth among audiences that prefer gritty, content-driven cinema, and Rani’s return in top form should work in the film’s favour, making it a worthy addition to the series and a must-watch for fans of this genre.

After foiling a human trafficking crime in the Sundarbans, SSP Shivani Shivaji Roy’s next assignment is to bring back two young girls, Ruhani and Jhimli, kidnapped in Bulandshahar. On the surface, it looks like the beggar mafia at work. But a disturbing pattern emerges; the culprits only take young girls. While the obvious guess would be sex trafficking, blood tests and mentions of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ hint at something beyond that. This is where director Abhiraj Minawala and writer Aayush Gupta’s narrative turns dark and interesting. The movie manages to maintain suspense as the audience is treated to two major crimes being solved, neatly divided into two halves.
The first half is engaging and moves at a brisk pace as Shivani goes after the abductors, who double-cross Amma, and then to the latter. The narrative loses some spark post-interval when the pace slackens, and the story moves into a familiar territory. While there are some clichés and predictable plot twists in the first half as well, they become more pronounced later on. Dialogues about the Goddess being born every now and then to end the atrocities against girls and women add to the tropes. The astute police work and crime-solving is better in the first half, but the final payoff does not live up to expectations once the evil racket is revealed. It’s an international conspiracy that feels too easily solved. The writing is not consistently sharp, but the film maintains the Mardaani legacy in its action, production values, performance, and tone, which helps hold the audience's attention.
Rani Mukerji proves why she is so revered as Shivani Shivaji Roy. Her performance as the no-nonsense cop with unflinching integrity is as finessed as the first two volumes. Right from the opening sequence, the actor pulls off the stunts with elan. Mallika Prasad as Amma does a fine job, but the characterisation has little novelty. Prajesh Kashyap, as a former victim of the beggar mafia who is on a war against Amma and other human traffickers, has a strong role.
Mardaani 3 isn’t without its flaws, but it still holds as a solid franchise outing anchored by Rani Mukerji’s performance.

Mardaani 3 operates on the familiar module: a cop's race against time to rescue trafficked young girls. This time, though, Rani Mukerji's Shivani Shivaji Roy is up against another woman -- equally strong-headed, deeply driven and unwavering in her belief system. So what changes from the first two films? Nothing, if you want the short answer. And almost everything, if you are willing to look closer.
In Mardaani 3, Roy is not just chasing traffickers, she is fighting a system that retreats the moment things get uncomfortable. A system that bends instinctively towards the powerful and the wealthy. When the daughter of an influential man is kidnapped, the machinery suddenly awakens -- efficient, alert and urgent. Until then, the missing ones remain statistics, not emergencies.

Roy's adversary this time is Mallika Prasad's Amma, the queenpin of a sprawling human trafficking network that drugs little girls and exploits them for a purpose the film allows to reveal gradually. The nexus is vast, spread across cities and states, making Roy's task more complex than ever. Time is crucial, but nothing moves as smoothly as it does on paper. To survive, Roy must stay a step ahead of a nemesis who understands the system just as well as she does.
Rani Mukerji brings a fierce assurance to Shivani Shivaji Roy, leaning fully into the role of a cop who reacts instinctively, thinks sharply and rarely waits for permission. This is a woman who doesn't look for backup -- emotional or professional. She functions as a one-woman force, and Rani fits the part with ease. The intensity in her eyes isn't the result of make-up. Her freckles remain visible, her dark circles unhidden -- markers of exhaustion that thousands of cops in our country experience every day, fighting injustice, corruption, and even those eyes questioning them for choosing a profession traditionally meant for men. Rani doesn't bring a polished portrayal of women in uniform, and that's her biggest win here.
Still, Rani sells the purpose to you. She anchors the film's intent with conviction, and Mallika Prasad lives up to the franchise's intimidating legacy of antagonists. Vishal Jethwa (2019) and Tahir Raj Bhasin (2014) left behind villains that felt disturbingly real, untouched. Mallika joins that list. Amma is not born monstrous; she is moulded by a system that rewards cruelty and indifference. That makes her more hardened, more corrupt, and more fearless.

Director Abhiraj Minawala takes on a demanding task and largely succeeds. Despite Rai's commanding presence, the film often feels equally -- sometimes more -- supported by Janki Bodiwala and Mallika Prasad. Their performances are sharp and assured, occasionally outshining even Rani in scenes that depend on shared emotional weight, and not on individual heroism.

The heart of Mardaani 3 is unmistakably in the right place. The action feels grounded, almost incidental, while the camera functions as an unflinching witness, guiding viewers through neglected alleys and forgotten corners where trafficking thrives because no one is looking. The film's strength lies in its restraint. It doesn't aestheticise suffering. It presents a grim reality, and no one is playing dress up.
That said, no part of Mardaani 3 matches the raw impact of the first film. Pradeep Sarkar's Mardaani (2014) remains the franchise's most unflinching examination of human trafficking. This third instalment, however, does enough to push the conversation forward, even if it doesn't redefine it.
The background score -- Aigiri Nandini, the Mahishasura Mardini Strotam -- works effectively, reinforcing the film's moral urgency. Rani's "Ladki Kyu" monologue offers a pointed, if familiar, reflection on gendered expectations and exploitation. But the film's most searing line comes from its villain, spoken to a foreigner: "Life here is cheap. Even your animals are better protected than our poor street children" -- an indictment, not provocation.
Mardaani 3 may not be the franchise's sharpest weapon, but it remains a necessary one. It is angry in the right places, flawed in usual ways, and driven by a conviction that refuses to soften for comfort.

A spitfire, Rani Mukerji meets her match in Mardaani 3 in the strikingly vivid form of Mallika Prasad, who slips into the garb of the first female antagonist of the franchise with effortless ease. The frequently electrifying on-screen face-offs between them bring the best out of both performers. In the bargain, the film acquires an edge that is infinitely sharper than that of the two previous films in the series.

Mardaani 3 isn't necessarily any different from all the crusading Singham-style cop movies that Bollywood produces, but it stands apart nonetheless, not just from the crowd but also from its two precursors because of the crackle and clarity of the tale.

The Aditya Chopra-produced, Abhiraj Minawala-directed thriller benefits appreciably from the intense duel between the characters portrayed by Mukerji and Prasad - two strong-willed women at opposite ends of the moral scale.

One threatens the other. The criminal has a free run of the field. The woman in uniform has rules that she must abide by. The latter is shackled by protocol. The former knows no bounds and can do as she pleases until she is confronted by a very determined law enforcer.
Mardaani 3 has a rock-solid first half that represents frills-free filmmaking at its very best. Well, almost. It is followed by another hour and a bit that is nearly just as good, making the film as flawless as a genre film can ever be in terms of both its writing and its crafting.

While the screenplay and dialogue by Aayush Gupta never deviate from the spirit of the film, Artur Zurawski's cinematography and Yasha Ranchandani's editing lend sheen and pace to the film respectively.

As much as it is a police procedural on the lines of Mardaani (in which the heroine took on human traffickers in Delhi) and Mardaani 2 (in which her foe was a young rapist and murderer in Kota), Mardaani 3 incorporates a medico-social angle that pitchforks it well beyond the scope of just encounters and investigations.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shivani Shivaji Roy's theatre of operations is once again Delhi and a few small towns around it. The area expectedly swarms with ruthless killers and kidnappers, keeping the officer and her team on their toes.

SSP Roy thinks on her feet and flits between the National Capital Region and Bulandshahr, Sikar, and Jaipur (often in the company of rookie cop Fatima Anwar, played by Janki Bodiwala) before heading out to Colombo for a climactic showdown.

It pits the crusading cop against a suave man - yes, Mardaani 3 has another villain - who is an embodiment of pure evil who swears by Amma (Mallika Prasad), a crime queen who stops at nothing.

The film opens with the kidnapping of two girls from a farmhouse in Bulandshahr. The victims are a VIP's daughter and the child of the caretaker. Cops rush in because there is pressure upon them to solve the case quickly. Turns out that the abduction of the girls is only the tip of a massive iceberg.

Nearly 100 minor girls have gone missing in a span of three months from in and around Delhi. A large percentage of them are street children from impoverished families.

The irrepressible SSP is ordered to swing into action. She runs to run into devilish criminals who operate in the shadows in Delhi's underbelly and a sceptical boss who rarely gives her a free hand.

SSP Roy's investigation brings her face to face with Amma, whose writ runs over a ring of kidnappers whose motives are shrouded in mystery until the final quarter of the film, when the sheer global scale of the crime becomes apparent.

The screenwriter gives the director and the actors solid chunks of narrative meat to work with as they wend their way through situations that have the power to surprise and excite the audience as well as challenge the performers on the screen.

Rani Mukerji and Mallika Prasad grab every opportunity with both hands and lift Mardaani 3 above the humdrum. The film, and especially their confrontations in different settings (including the police officer's home), hit home with great force.

In essence, Mardaani 3 is an old-school good-versus-evil drama that factors in the ills of a male-dominated society that spares no thought for, let alone does anything about, the safety and well-being of girls born in disadvantaged circumstances.

The film's social construct and mythic proportions (the analogy of a powerful goddess fighting a band of monsters is inevitably all-pervasive) serve as a bulwark that elevates the conventional cops-and-crooks tale.

Rani Mukerji, returning to the screen after 2023's Mrs Chatterjee vs. Norway, is at the top of her game. She delivers a power-packed, unblemished star turn that should rank among the finest of her 30-year-old acting career.

Although Mukerji has a bunch of action sequences that have been designed to project her as a fearless woman of action, Mallika Prasad has to make do with verbal jousts. She makes the most of them, matching the lead actress all the way through with the aid of her dialogue delivering and the piercing gaze of her kohl-lined eyes..

Although the battle lines, and daggers, between the two key characters are drawn pretty unambiguously early in the film, there is enough in the plot that keeps the audience guessing.

It is in the smaller details of SSP Roy's war on the mafia and her often self-defeating negotiations with the higher-ups in the police force and in the government that distinguishes Mardaani 3 from average Bollywood girls-in-distress tales.

By the time Mardaani 3 winds up, it provides a major hint that this is not the end of the road for supercop Shivani Shivaji Roy. Is there, then, another installment on the horizon? We wouldn't mind one if it were half as taut and riveting as this.

Rani Mukerji is back as Shivani Shivaji Roy, the fierce SSP, and this time she fights the beggar mafia, Amma. Amma, the deadly lady, has been involved in child trafficking and supplying kids to beggars on the street, but this time, she has a different motive, and for that, she is getting girls aged 8–10 abducted. Now, Rani’s Shivani must find Amma’s motive and save about 60 girls from her.
Just like the rest of the two parts of the franchise, Mardaani 3 also brings a hard-hitting, rooted story. While in comparison to the last film in the franchise, this one is more palatable, the film delivers a very strong message, and Rani as fierce Shivani is a delight to watch.While watching the film, there are instances where the audience’s shock value has been used to create impact in the story, and the biggest twist comes right when you aren’t prepared for it. Exactly at the time when you feel that things are getting better, is when you get slapped by the biggest shocker.

Mardaani 3 not only deals with mafias committing crimes but also speaks volumes about how the nicest-looking person can also be the most horrible human being. Well, that said, this film has Rani yet again standing as a rock in the face of crimes against women.Rani Mukerji is fighting for every woman out there who couldn’t scream. Speaking of the actress’ performance, it’s raw, intense, and, like always, super convincing. While Rani as Shivani Shivaji Roy is someone who can never let her audience down, there is a sense of forced Marathi accent and some over-the-top dialogues in the film that might irritate you at times. For instance, watching Rani say lines like “fielding set kar" or “latak ke marega yaa yahin gaad doon" doesn’t feel very convincing and at times leaves you wondering if they were needed.

Mardaani 3 is definitely a must-watch. While the film stumbles, Rani strongly holds a simple script on her shoulders. Though there was scope to sharpen the script, a film with purpose deserves attention, and in Mardaani 3, Rani does manage to speak for those whose voices are often left unheard.

Intense. Relevant. Captivating... #RaniMukerji returns in top form, delivering a ferocious, no-holds-barred performance... A gripping battle of courage and justice. #Mardaani3Review

Director #AbhirajMinawala mounts a taut, hard-hitting thriller that stays true to the soul of the franchise... The narrative is razor-sharp [for the most part], the tension relentless, and the emotional beats land with force.

Any shortcomings? The writing could've been sharper in parts... Specifically, in the post-interval portions – the antagonists' track could have been explained in a simpler manner.

Additionally, while the #Colombo track in the concluding portions is interesting, the sequences leading up to it could have been written with greater conviction.

#RaniMukerji is simply outstanding – commanding screen presence, steely resolve, and remarkable emotional depth... She owns every frame, reminding us why #ShivaniShivajiRoy remains one of #Hindi cinema's most iconic cop characters.

#MallikaPrasad [as Amma] is terrifying and highly effective, fully rising to the challenge of the role... #PrajeshKashyap [as Ramanujan] also impresses... The casting of these two actors is a major strength of the film; a known name may not have delivered the same element of surprise.

#JankiBodiwala [as Fatima] puts in a confident and commendable performance.

The background score [#JohnStewartEduri] is top notch, while the action choreography further elevates the experience.

⭐️ Final word? #Mardaani3 is a worthy addition to the franchise and a must-watch for fans of gritty, content-driven cinema.

The entry scene of Amma is a showstopper. Mallika Prasad’s cold, unflinching demeanour sends chills down your spine; she doesn’t scream menace, she breathes it. Her presence alone creates dread, making her one of the most unsettling antagonists in the franchise.

One of the film’s most empowering moments comes when Shivani tells a woman inspector, who has been limited to serving chai, ‘Tray chod Fatima’ (Leave the tray, Fatima). The line is not just a dialogue - it’s a statement. Shivani asks her to step into the field and join the investigation, subtly yet powerfully breaking gender roles within the system itself.
The screenplay is razor-sharp and tightly packed. It keeps you hooked and doesn’t allow even a second of distraction. The fight sequences are smartly choreographed, brutal yet believable, never turning flashy for the sake of spectacle.

Director Abhiraj Minawala proves that there’s more to Mardaani 3 than what meets the eye. The storytelling is layered, controlled, and impactful, especially in how it lets silence speak louder than noise.
Rani Mukerji once again proves why Shivani Shivaji Roy belongs to her. Her portrayal of the conflict between personal and professional duty is executed with remarkable restraint. She doesn’t overplay emotions; instead, she lets them simmer, making the impact far stronger.
Prajesh Kashyap as Ramanujan is exceptional, completely controlled and emerges as a surprise package.

Mallika Prasad’s Amma is easily one of the most chilling villains in recent Hindi cinema, controlled, composed, and terrifying.

Janki Bodiwala as cop Fatima Anwar is very balanced in her performance and plays a crucial role in the film.

Final Word
Mardaani 3 is not an easy watch, and it’s not meant to be. It’s disturbing, powerful, and deeply relevant. The climax will give you goosebumps, leaving you shaken long after the screen fades to black.

This is a film every woman should watch, not just for its message, but for the strength it portrays, the conversations it sparks, and the uncomfortable truths it forces us to confront.

Mardaani 3 is fierce, fearless, and firmly impactful.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Pinkvilla. No statement in this article is intended to defame, harm, or malign any individual or entity.

Not just engaging, Rani Mukerji and Mallika Prasad’s performances will completely consume you. Mardaani 3 starts with kids being kidnapped from Sundarbans in West Bengal. Rani Mukerji as the relentless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. Locating these dozens of missing girls is not just a trafficking racket, it is much gorier and far beyond anybody’s imagination as to what level of criminal we have in our country. The movie underlines the film’s darker and more urgent stakes.
The central mystery of Mardaani 3 is that 100 girls reported missing in 3 months are revealed to be part of a well-organized criminal enterprise, forcing Shivani Roy (Rani Mukerji) and her team into relentlessly tracking and solving the case.  Mallika Prasad is behind this trafficking, but why that I won’t reveal because that will be a big spoiler.
But the case comes to the notice of the police only when the ambassador’s daughter goes missing. The film is far better than the trailer. Rani Mukerji is in full swing and I must say that she is choosing her roles very carefully. She is indeed the ‘Maharani’ of craft. The storyline of the Maardaani is going to shake you like hell because it isn’t just a crime, in fact crime at another level. And she knows her strength which is her craft. After yearning for years, we get to see a powerful female lead and most importantly an actress like Rani who prefers to concentrate on their craft and not in the way she looks on screen.
We all know that the Mardaani franchise is known for giving Bollywood its most gruesome villains and just the way a heroine is important to make a successful film, so is the hero. Amma, played by Mallika Prasad, is a villain who can’t stop hating. Just the way the main lead is powerful, in the same way the villain is undeniably equally powerful. And with the intensity with which she has performed her role, she needs to be appreciated.
Amma (Mallika Prasad) embodies the mastermind behind a brutal human-trafficking network, setting up a gripping face-off with Shivani Roy (Rani Mukerji). Amma’s character is raw, gruesome and unsettling. When you see her on screen, you can feel a steel finger running down the spine. In fact, that chilling is her performance. She has brilliantly performed the role of a complex woman. Rani’s performance is undoubtedly terrific and this film is an absolute must-watch.



Mardaani 3 | Official Trailer | Rani Mukerji | Abhiraj Minawala | Releasing 30 Jan 2026

One of Bollywood`s most sought-after actresses, Rani Mukerji has pulled off the portrayal of the college bombshell Tina in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and the tough Senior Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani with equal ease. Apart from being a phenomenal actress, Rani is also actively involved with a number of social causes, education and children rights being her most passionate causes.  The award-winning actress is known for her portrayal of strong women in most of her movies and has impressed the audience and critics on several occasions, winning the Filmfare Award seven times up until 2018.

Mardaani 3

Mardaani 3(2026)

Synopsis

Cast & Crew

Videos

Posters & wallpapers