Mardaani 3 (2026) Review!!

Synopsis – Super cop Shivani Shivaji Roy takes on a powerful, ruthless female antagonist in a brutal fight against human trafficking, as she races to rescue numerous missing girls across India in a dark, violent, and intense chapter of the franchise.

My Take – With the surprise failure of War 2 (2025) and echoes of franchise fatigue finally hitting YRF, the legendary studio has turned towards their comparatively “quieter” but unhinged series, hoping to course-corrects things.

Fronted by Rani Mukerji and thriving on its uncomfortable subject matter, the films depict crimes against women and how the character of SSP Shivani Shivaji Roy IPS hunts down the perpetrators meticulously.

While Mardaani (2015) spotlighted the grim world of human trafficking and Mardaani 2 (2019) explored the chilling mind of a brutal serial offender, the latest installment pushes the franchise into darker territory by making the doughty cop face her most twisted adversaries yet, who are kidnapping prepubescence girls, from low-income groups, all over the country, for a specific unknown reason.

Structured around shocking psychological brutality and a screenplay that loves throwing curve balls, the third chapter, directed by Abhiraj Minawala (Loveyatri) and based on a story by Aayush Gupta, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Deepak Kingrani and Baljeet Singh Marwah, works as an adequate addition to the series. Running for about 130 minutes, the film’s narrative is efficient and gripping throughout, neatly balancing its Mukerji’s stardom with a plot that ticks all the right boxes, though refusing to play safe for the sake of comfort.

Sure, while the script introduces a chilling new segment like the beggar mafia and human experimentation into mainstream Hindi cinema, undoubtedly, it also loses some of the franchise’s sharp edge to predictable plot beats, particularly in the wobbly second half which goes overboard in its attempt to play to the gallery.

Nevertheless, powered by Rani Mukerji’s strong presence, the film stays engaging even when it loses some bite and succeeds as a visceral reminder of the continuing systemic failures surrounding women’s safety.

The story once again follows SSP Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji), who following yet another successful bust is called in by the National Investigation Agency in Delhi and handed over the sensitive kidnapping case of two young girls in Bulandshahr. One being the daughter of India’s ambassador to Turkey, and other being the child of his domestic worker.

But as Shivani begins digging deeper, she realizes that these two missing girls are merely the surface of something far more horrifying and instead is introduced to a network of exploitation involving hundreds and possibly thousands of young girls.

All connecting to Amma (Mallika Prasad), the nasty leader of a beggar mafia network, who has turned her own exploitation as a girl into the suffering of others. With an altruist social worker Ramanujan (Prajesh Kashyap) and an enthusiastic young police constable Fatima (Janki Bodiwala) at her side, Shivani rolls up her sleeves and gets to working on bringing the girls home, no matter the course, and dismantling whatever and whoever is behind the brutal human-trafficking network.

Beginning with a bang that re-introduces Shivani’s character something akin of a Tollywood superstar, the film moves towards the case and sets up the cat-and-mouse game. In the first half, director Minawala keeps the storytelling tight by moving the narrative at a brisk pace and avoids unnecessary distractions. Even switching gears, unlike its predecessors, where the antagonists were mostly hiding in the shadows, by allowing Amma to openly challenge Shivani by coming face-to-face, that too inside her house.

But although the first hour builds solid momentum, but the second hour feels slightly scattered. The narrative beats feel well worn, particularly in the shadow of ‘Delhi Crime‘ Season 3, which released just two months ago and explored similar themes. Also, while the earlier films saw Shivani operated within the system, often fighting it to prioritize humanity and moral victory over simply solving cases.

This time around, the scale feels larger, an element which compromises the seriousness of the crime in favor of portraying the lead character as a larger-than-life hero. The climax too, while fairly engaging, is average at beat.

Leaving the film to rest firmly on Rani Mukerji’s able shoulders. There is a certain aura she carries, a calm rage mixed with restraint that makes Shivani Shivaji Roy deeply compelling. This being the third film, Mukerji understands the character intimately and plays her with complete control. Coincidentally, the film’s release celebrates the talented performer’s three decades in the industry, and for every Rani Mukerji fan, it acts as a reminder that she remains irreplaceable.

Opposite her, Mallika Prasad, the veteran theater actor makes a powerful Hindi feature debut by ensuring Amma brings the perfect amount of terror required in the film. ‘Shaitaan’ actress Janki Bodiwala shines in her scenes, while Prajesh Kashyap makes for a genuine find. In supporting roles, Jisshu Sengupta, Indraneel Bhattacharya, Mikhail Yawalkar, Jaipreet Singh, and Jimpa Sangpo Bhutia are competent. On the whole, ‘Mardaani 3‘ is a predictable yet gripping thriller elevated by Rani Mukerji’s compelling lead performance.