Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji’s much-awaited film Mardani 3 was released on January 30, 2026. The first show has already played in theatres, and once again Rani has delivered. But how is the full film? Read the review to find out.
In the Mardani franchise, Rani Mukerji’s powerful cop avatar has consistently brought engaging stories based on human trafficking. Rani’s performance as Shivani Shivaji Roy has always been strong. And the trailer of Mardani 3 suggested that Rani and the new story of this franchise would be even more powerful. At least till the first half, it can be said that Mardani 3 lives up to its promise.
This time, Shivani Shivaji Roy is faced with the kidnapping case of an ambassador’s daughter. Along with her, the daughter of her caretaker is also kidnapped. As the investigation progresses, it is revealed that the kidnappers are connected to a trafficking ring. This ring is run by Amma (Mallika Prasad). Her trafficking ring is linked to a beggar-mafia. Carrying forward the tradition of the Mardani franchise, the new story also presents Amma as a villain whose very entry can give you goosebumps. Amma is terrifying, ruthless, disgusting, and psychotic. She is one of the most dangerous villains seen on the big screen in recent times.
Amma is so dangerous that she even enters Shivani’s house. The kidnappers separate both the girls. Shivani is about to reach the ambassador’s daughter. Big people are involved, and there is full support from the government machinery. But will this machinery also spend its resources to find the poor caretaker’s daughter?
The case was about finding the girls, and Amma got involved in this case by coincidence. Will the system also step forward to expose Amma’s dark deeds and stop her? The first half is very powerful. Rani is in full form. The story is serious, and you get immediately invested in watching it unfold. Now it remains to be seen what the second half of Mardani 3 brings.
Film slows down in the second half
In the first half, Mardani 3 created a solid build-up. Just before the interval, you come to know that Amma is not the only villain in the film. It is better to find out who the second villain is by watching the film. The second half focuses on Shivani, who has even put her job at stake. But here, Mardani 3 seems to try doing something extra. Suddenly, the film starts trying too many ideas. The beggar-mafia and trafficking angle also brings in drug trials. Shivani’s mission starts becoming somewhat international. In the previous two films, Shivani was a cop who stayed within the system, sometimes fighting the system itself, while keeping human elements above everything to end crime. Her focus was not just on solving the case, but on moral victory. This time, the matter goes one level higher.
Shivani turns into a rebel, vigilante-type role against the system. The story arc of the second villain becomes a bit too unbelievable. Shivani and this second villain start competing in smartness. The film starts focusing more on flaunting the smartness of the story than on binding the audience. To watch a fictional story, as a viewer you have to believe in the plot and the characters. But the second half of Mardani 3 asks you to throw all logic aside, which becomes a bit too much. The film compromises the seriousness of the story just to prove the lead character as a hero. This is the same problem that started appearing in cop-universe films. The Mardani franchise did not have this issue earlier, but this time it does. Such things are also the result of the makers’ ambition to take the franchise to the next level. In the second half, these elements start distracting the audience. At times, the film looks confused. Amma’s excellent villain character ends up being underused. Then, only Shivani’s heroism becomes the main reason for the film to stay afloat. And Rani Mukerji’s performance definitely keeps you engaged.
Overall, Mardani 3 is a film with a strong setup, solid story, and powerful performances
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