Rani Mukerji's acclaimed character, supercop Shivan Shivaji Roy, is set to make her return to the cinema shortly. On Friday, the actress revealed the third instalment of the Mardaani series, titled Mardaani 3. This film, produced by Yash Raj Films, is scheduled to commence production in 2025, with a theatrical release anticipated in 2026. An official release date has yet to be disclosed.

On Friday, coinciding with the anniversary of Mardaani 2's release, YRF utilized social media to unveil the announcement poster for Mardaani 3. The caption stated, "The wait is over! #RaniMukerji is back as the fierce Shivani Shivaji Roy in #Mardaani3. In cinemas 2026." The poster indicated that Aditya Chopra would produce the film under the YRF banner, with Abhiraj Minawala serving as the director.

Rani Mukerji discusses her role in Mardaani 3.

In response to the announcement, Rani expressed her excitement, stating, “I am delighted to share that we will commence filming for Mardaani 3 in April 2025. It is always a unique experience to don the police uniform and portray a character that has brought me immense affection. I take pride in reprising the role of this determined officer in Mardaani 3 as a homage to all the unsung, courageous, and selfless police officers who dedicate themselves daily to ensuring our safety.”

The actress emphasized that Mardaani 3 will elevate the thrill factor beyond that of its predecessors. “As we embarked on the journey to create Mardaani 3, our goal was to discover a script that would enhance the viewing experience of the Mardaani franchise,” she remarked, adding, “Mardaani is a highly cherished series, and we bear a significant responsibility to meet the expectations of our audience. We are committed to fulfilling this obligation. Mardaani 3 is intense, fierce, and unrelenting. Therefore, I am eager to see how the audience will respond to our film. I hope they extend the same warmth and affection to this instalment as they have in the past.”

The script for Mardaani 3 has been penned by Aayush Gupta, known for his work on The Railway Men. The film will be directed by Abhiraj Minawala, who has received training from YRF. He has previously assisted the YRF head on notable films such as Band Baaja Baarat, Sultan, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, and Tiger 3. Currently, Abhiraj serves as the associate director for War 2.

The Mardaani franchise encompasses a series of films that focus on themes of empowerment and justice.

The Mardaani franchise commenced with the film of the same name, which premiered in 2014. Under the direction of Pradeep Sarkar, Mardaani achieved significant commercial success, grossing ₹60 crore at the box office. The sequel, Mardaani 2, directed by Gopi Puthran, was launched in 2019 and garnered ₹67 crore. Both instalments showcased Rani in the role of a resilient police officer tackling issues related to violence against women.

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