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If you missed Mardaani 3 in theatres or simply want to watch it again from your couch, the wait is almost over. Rani Mukerji's gritty cop drama is heading to Netflix on March 27, following the standard eight week theatrical to digital window after its January 30 release in cinemas.
What the film is about
Shivani Shivaji Roy is back. The IPS officer that Rani Mukerji has made one of Hindi cinema's most compelling characters returns in the third instalment of the franchise to take on something deeply disturbing, a beggar mafia with direct links to child trafficking.
The case at the centre of the story involves 93 young girls who went missing under mysterious circumstances over a period of just three months. Shivani takes it on and what follows is exactly the kind of race against time thriller the franchise has built its reputation on.
The film is directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films. Janki Bodiwala and Mallika Prasad appear alongside Rani in key roles, with Jisshu Sengupta, Prajesh Kashyap and Indraneel Bhattacharya in supporting parts.
How it did at the box office
Critics were mixed but audiences showed up. Mardaani 3 ended up becoming the highest grossing film in the entire franchise, collecting Rs 47.55 crore in India, just edging past Mardaani 2 which had made Rs 47.51 crore. The original Mardaani had earned Rs 35.86 crore in its time.
For a franchise built around a female cop taking on crimes that most mainstream Hindi films shy away from, those numbers say something real about where the audience's appetite is.
What Rani Said About It
Rani Mukerji spoke about the franchise's success in a way that went beyond standard promotional talk. She said Mardaani has always been more than a film for her — it is a voice for women who refuse to be silenced. She described the success of the third instalment as deeply personal.
She also said something that stayed with people. Even if one girl is affected and targeted, she said, it is a failure of society that we could not protect her. The franchise has always tried to make that point and she is not ready to stop making it.
What About Mardaani 4
The makers have hinted at a fourth instalment. Director Abhiraj Minawala clarified that while the team is open to continuing Shivani Shivaji Roy's story, the next chapter will only happen when the right story comes along. No rushing. No forced sequel just because the third one worked.
That is probably the right call for a franchise that has built its credibility on taking its subject matter seriously.
Where to Watch and When
Mardaani 3 arrives on Netflix on March 27. The previous two films, Mardaani and Mardaani 2, are already on the platform, which means you can watch all three back to back if you are in the mood for a proper binge.
The film carries a U/A 16 plus rating given its subject matter around child abduction and organised crime. It runs 129 minutes. Worth every one of them.
English (US) ·