Mardaani 3 Movie Review: Rani Mukerji as Shivani Shivaji Roy is unshakeable; climax is spine-chilling

January 30, 2026:

Mardaani 3 Movie Review: Rani Mukerji as Shivani Shivaji Roy is unshakeable; climax is spine-chilling

Name: Mardaani 3

Director: Abhiraj Minawala

Cast: Rani Mukerji, Mallika Prasad, Prajesh Kashyap, Janki Bodiwala

Writer: Aayush Gupta, Deepak Kingrani, Baljeet Singh Marwah

Rating: 3/5

Plot
Mardaani 3, directed by Abhiraj Minawala, dives into one of the most disturbing crimes yet, girl child trafficking under the age of 8–9, carried out under the garb of medical advancement. Amma (Mallika Prasad) and Ramanujan (Prajesh Kashyap) traffic pre-puberty girls to conduct illegal HPV-X virus testing, leaving them to die and using them as guinea pigs for drug experimentation. They aim to create a futuristic drug for cervical cancer. What sounds like a ‘greater good’ pitch slowly reveals its monstrous reality.

ACP Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji) finds herself caught between duty and conscience, battling not just criminals but a deeply unsettling moral grey zone. The film also subtly underscores the brutal disparity between the privileged and the powerless, making its crime feel painfully real.

What Works
The entry scene of Amma is a showstopper. Mallika Prasad’s cold, unflinching demeanour sends chills down your spine; she doesn’t scream menace, she breathes it. Her presence alone creates dread, making her one of the most unsettling antagonists in the franchise.

One of the film’s most empowering moments comes when Shivani tells a woman inspector, who has been limited to serving chai, ‘Tray chod Fatima’ (Leave the tray, Fatima). The line is not just a dialogue – it’s a statement. Shivani asks her to step into the field and join the investigation, subtly yet powerfully breaking gender roles within the system itself.

The screenplay is razor-sharp and tightly packed. It keeps you hooked and doesn’t allow even a second of distraction. The fight sequences are smartly choreographed, brutal yet believable, never turning flashy for the sake of spectacle.

Director Abhiraj Minawala proves that there’s more to Mardaani 3 than what meets the eye. The storytelling is layered, controlled, and impactful, especially in how it lets silence speak louder than noise.

What Doesn’t Work
While the film is gripping, certain portions feel emotionally heavy to the point of discomfort, which is intentional, but may not work for all audiences. The film’s ambition is commendable, but at places, the narrative slightly leans into exposition instead of letting moments breathe organically.

Watch the trailer of Mardaani 3 below:

Performances
Rani Mukerji once again proves why Shivani Shivaji Roy belongs to her. Her portrayal of the conflict between personal and professional duty is executed with remarkable restraint. She doesn’t overplay emotions; instead, she lets them simmer, making the impact far stronger.

Prajesh Kashyap as Ramanujan is exceptional. Given generous screen space, he uses every moment to build an antagonist who is intelligent, calculated, and deeply disturbing without being loud.

Mallika Prasad’s Amma is easily one of the most chilling villains in recent Hindi cinema, controlled, composed, and terrifying.

Janki Bodiwala as cop Fatima Anwar is very balanced in her performance and plays a crucial role in the film.

Final Word
Mardaani 3 is not an easy watch, and it’s not meant to be. It’s disturbing, powerful, and deeply relevant. The climax will give you goosebumps, leaving you shaken long after the screen fades to black.

This is a film every woman should watch, not just for its message, but for the strength it portrays, the conversations it sparks, and the uncomfortable truths it forces us to confront.

Mardaani 3 is fierce, fearless, and firmly impactful.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Pinkvilla. No statement in this article is intended to defame, harm, or malign any individual or entity.

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