Mardaani 3 brings back the no nonsense cop Shivani Shivaji Roy in a third chapter that stays committed to the franchise’s identity: hard hitting social crime storytelling mounted as a mainstream thriller. This time, the film leans into urgency and moral anger, with a darker mood and a sharper sense of danger than the earlier instalments.
It is designed to make you uncomfortable in parts, not for shock value, but to underline what the story is fighting against. Officially positioned as a race against time to rescue missing girls, the film places Shivani in a mission where the clock is always ticking and mercy is in short supply.
Mardaani 3: Plot
Set around an investigation into missing girls, Mardaani 3 follows Shivani as she goes up against an organised trafficking network that operates with chilling efficiency. The film frames the case as more than a routine police procedural. It becomes a rescue mission that keeps escalating as Shivani uncovers how deep the system runs and how easily victims disappear into it.
Two young girls, Ruhani (Avanee Joshi) and Jhimli (Diorr Varghese), are abducted from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh and taken to the hideout of the dangerous beggar mafia queen, Amma (Mallika Prasad). The case becomes high profile as Ruhani is the daughter of India’s ambassador to Turkey, Sahu (Eindraneel Bhattacharya). Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji) is asked to take charge. Fearing that both girls will either be killed or trafficked, Shivani asks Sahu to announce that anyone who helps in finding his daughter will be awarded Rs. 2 crores. Enticed by the offer, Pinku (Aadesh Pandit) and his gang, who kidnapped Ruhani from Bulandshahr, extract her from Amma’s hideout. Shivani is pressured into finding Ruhani at any cost and not worry about finding Jhimli or nabbing Amma. However, Shivani keeps her focus on both. This is because Amma specifically kidnaps only prepubescent girls. Moreover, the ones doing the kidnapping are being paid 5 times the usual amount, making Shivani wonder what Amma is up to. What happens next forms the rest of the film.
The screenplay structures the story like a chase where every breakthrough reveals a more brutal layer. Shivani is forced to navigate not just criminals but also delays, loopholes, and the pressure of time, which is what gives it the narrative its relentless momentum. A notable shift this time is the presence of a female antagonist, which changes the psychological texture of the conflict and adds a new kind of tension to Shivani’s pursuit.
While the film remains firmly rooted in investigation and action, it also makes room for the human cost of the crime, keeping the stakes emotionally real rather than purely plot driven. The result is a story that moves fast, hits hard, and stays focused on its core objective: rescue first, justice next.
Mardaani 3: Performances
Rani Mukerji continues to be the franchise’s biggest strength. Her Shivani is not written as a superhero cop, and that grounded energy is exactly why the character works. She brings authority without theatricality, intensity without constant yelling, and a moral fire that feels personal rather than performative. The performance carries the film through its heaviest moments because she never treats the case like a genre exercise. She treats it like a fight.
The supporting cast largely complements her with a functional realism that suits the film’s tone. 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: Analysis
Mardaani 3 works best when it stays lean and urgent. The film’s “race against time” design is not just a tagline. It shapes the pacing, the tension, and the emotional pressure on Shivani at every step. The direction keeps the mood gritty and serious, prioritising tension over glamour, and treating the subject with a sense of gravity.
Where the film lands strongly is in the atmosphere of threat. It constantly reminds you that the enemy is not one person but an ecosystem, and that is what makes the mission feel heavier than a standard cat and mouse thriller. The decision to introduce a female antagonist also helps the third instalment avoid feeling like a repeat, because it changes the nature of the psychological battle and adds unpredictability to the conflict.
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.
The song ‘Babbar Sherni’ (by Sarthak Kalyani) doesn’t register. However, John Stewart Eduri’s background score enhances the impact. Artur Żurawski’s cinematography complements the narrative and the theme of the film. Kailash Sahu’s production design is realistic and gritty. Eka Lakhani, Deepali Singh Raseen and Gunpreet Kaur Mann’s costumes are straight out of life. Sunil Rodrigues and Parvez Shaikh’s action is realistic and not too gory. Yasha Jaidev Ramchandani’s editing is razor-shar
At the same time, the film does feel uneven in places, not in intent, but in execution. Some stretches feel more functional than gripping, like the story is connecting necessary dots rather than building sustained dread. The emotional weight remains strong, but the narrative occasionally slips into familiar beats that reduce the element of surprise. That is why, despite its power and sincerity, the film does not consistently reach the sharpest high points of the franchise’s best moments.
Mardaani 3: Verdict
Mardaani 3 is a solid, intense sequel that stays true to what the franchise stands for: a tough, issue driven crime thriller led by a fierce and believable cop. Rani Mukerji once again anchors the film with conviction, and the race against time structure keeps it engaging for most of its runtime. The film’s darker tone and the new antagonist dynamic add freshness, even if the narrative does not feel equally sharp throughout.
If you are invested in the Mardaani world, this instalment delivers impact, urgency, and a strong lead performance, with a few patches that could have been tighter.
Mardaani 3: Rating
Critics Rating: 3/5
Box Office Rating: 2.5/5
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