New Delhi: Rani Mukerji is set to return as SP Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3. Yash Raj Films officially announced the third installment of the gritty, female-led franchise on 13 December.
The production is set to begin in April, with Mardaani 3 eyeing a theatrical release in 2026.
“The wait is over! Rani Mukerji is back as the fierce Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3. In cinemas 2026,” YRF shared in an Instagram post.
Today also marks a special milestone—the five-year anniversary of Mardaani 2, which hit the cinema halls in 2019.
The Mardaani franchise
The Mardaani series began in 2014 with the late Pradeep Sarkar directing the first film, followed by Gopi Puthran helming the sequel.
For this third chapter, YRF has roped in director Abhiraj Minawala, and Aayush Gupta to write the screenplay. Minawala, currently an associate director on War 2, has collaborated with YRF for hits like Band Baaja Baaraat, Sultan, and Tiger 3.
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Meanwhile, Gupta joins after achieving global acclaim for his work on Netflix’s The Railway Men (2023).
As reported by Variety, production is slated to kick off in April 2025.
“I’m thrilled to announce that we are starting shooting for Mardaani 3 in April 2025,” said Mukerji. “I’m proud to bring Shivani Shivaji Roy back as a tribute to the unsung, brave, and selfless cops who work tirelessly to keep us safe every day.”
Describing the new film, Mukerji added that it will be “dark, deadly, and brutal”—a fitting tone for the character she has come to embody over the years.
Actor Vishal Jethwa, who played the villain Shiv Prasad Yadav in Mardaani 2, is looking forward to seeing who will portray the negative role in the third installment. If given a chance, he would grab the opportunity with both hands. He also said that nobody but Mukerji can play Mardaani.
“She (Mukerji) has raised the standards of the character with her performance, I cannot think of anyone else portraying the role,” he said.