Mardaani 3 to hit screens in 2026; Rani Mukerji promises a dark, brutal sequel

Rani Mukherjee in Mardaani 3

Yash Raj Films' Mardaani has become the biggest solo female-led franchise in Hindi cinema, earning widespread love and critical acclaim over the past decade. This blockbuster series, praised for its compelling storytelling and strong performances, especially by Rani Mukerji, has captured the hearts of audiences and earned cult status in the industry.

The franchise continues to be celebrated for its bold portrayal of women empowerment, making a significant impact on Indian cinema by redefining the action genre.

Today, on the release anniversary of Mardaani 2, YRF officially announced that it is making Mardaani 3 with Rani Mukerji again essaying the character of a daredevil cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. One of Indian cinema’s finest actors ever, Rani Mukerji, is the only actress to have a blockbuster franchise as a solo lead to her credit with Mardaani.

Rani says, "I’m thrilled to announce that we are starting shooting of Mardaani 3 in April 2025! It is always special to wear the police uniform and play a character that has only given me love. I’m proud to essay the character of this feisty cop again in Mardaani 3 as a tribute to all the unsung, brave, self-sacrificing cops who work tirelessly every single day to keep us safe."

Rani Mukerji reveals that Mardaani 3 will elevate the adrenaline rush to new heights, surpassing the action and intensity of the previous installments in the franchise.

She says, “When we set out to make Mardaani 3, we were hoping that we find a script that would take the experience of watching a Mardaani franchise film higher. I am really excited about what we have at hand and I’m only hoping that the audience too feels the same after watching Mardaani 3 in theatres!”

Rani adds, "Mardaani is an extremely loved franchise and we have a certain responsibility to deliver to the expectation that people have. We will do our best to live up to this. Mardaani 3 is dark, deadly and brutal. So, I’m intrigued to find out the response of the people towards our film. I hope they shower this film with the same amount of love that they have always given."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yash Raj Films (@yrf)

Also Read: Shraddha Kapoor's wish for rumored boyfriend, Rahul Mody, says, "May I always bully you..."

Aayush Gupta of The Railway Men fame has written the script of Mardaani 3. With The Railway Men, Aayush debuted on streaming as a screenplay and story writer and saw meteoric success as the series was a global success and also went on to become the best ever series from India. His gut-wrenching and hard-hitting edgy writing was lauded worldwide.

Mardaani 3 will be directed by Abhiraj Minawala, who has also been groomed by YRF. His potential was spotted by Aditya Chopra who first empowered him to assist on films like Band Baaja Baarat, Gunday, Sultan, Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Tiger 3 to name a few. Abhiraj is currently the Associate Director of War 2 and is now being trusted by the company to take over the reins of the blockbuster Mardaani franchise.