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Mardaani 3

30 January 2026Hindi2h 11m

What critics are saying

Critical reception for Mardaani 3 is moderately positive, with the majority of reviewers agreeing that Rani Mukerji's commanding central performance is the film's primary strength, with several noting it ranks among her career-best work.

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Officer Shivani Shivaji Roy returns to hunt down those behind the disappearance of young girls, risking everything to bring them back alive.

Critic Consensus

Critical reception for Mardaani 3 is moderately positive, with the majority of reviewers agreeing that Rani Mukerji's commanding central performance is the film's primary strength, with several noting it ranks among her career-best work. A number of critics also appreciated the film's urgent, socially conscious tone and its positioning of a female protagonist within the action genre. However, a recurring criticism is that the narrative formula feels familiar and mechanical, with multiple reviewers pointing out that the social messaging is superficial and the screenplay predictable, sacrificing nuance for a straightforward hero-versus-villain structure. The film is broadly seen as a serviceable franchise entry that leans heavily on its lead actor to carry weaknesses in the writing.

11 rated reviews · 9 positive · 1 mixed · 1 negative

Praised: Rani Mukerji's fierce performanceCriticised: Formulaic, predictable screenplay

AI-generated summary of 14 critic reviews · may contain errors

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Critic Reviews (14)

Updated
Saibal ChatterjeeTop Critic· NDTV
7.0
Rani Mukerji delivers a power-packed, unblemished star turn that should rank among the finest of her 30-year acting career.
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Shubhra GuptaTop Critic· Indian Express
4.0
Rani Mukerji is a solid actor, and we go along with her as she leads from the front, with everyone else following in her rear. But even she can't do much with the degree of over-writing and predictable plot-points: when a character says aap rath chalao, aur mujhe saarthi banne do, or words to that effect, we know exactly where this is going, just as we do when too-good-to-be-true characters crop up.
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8.0
This is a whopper of a sequel and is bigger and better, as any such franchise should ideally be! Rani Mukerji straddles the new film in the franchise, both as a true-blue stalwart cop and an actor, with expressions and steel unmatched.
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Dhaval Roy· Times Of India
7.0
Mardaani 3 isn't without its flaws, but it still holds as a solid franchise outing anchored by Rani Mukerji who is still fierce in this solid sequel that stays true to its legacy.
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7.0
While the film stumbles, Rani strongly holds a simple script on her shoulders. Mardaani 3 is definitely a must-watch, and Rani does manage to speak for those whose voices are often left unheard.
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Bollywood Hungama News Network· Bollywood Hungama
7.0
MARDAANI 3 is a powerful, intense, and hard-hitting thriller
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Devesh Sharma· Filmfare
7.0
Mardaani 3 arrives wearing its intentions on its sleeve, angry, urgent and unapologetically loud. It is grim, sombre and deliberately bombastic, shining a harsh light on systemic rot while ensuring there is enough shock-and-awe to keep audiences glued. Mardaani 3 may not always be subtle, but it is sincere in its outrage.
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Mayank Shekhar· Mid-Day
6.0
The film is fine counterpoint to macho-man rodeo savage heroes that we are more used to, onscreen, watching their hair fly in the air as they swing on harnesses like circus clowns. While equally feisty, and very much an actioner still, Mardaani adds a suitably feminine energy with a heroine in the same part.
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Vineeta Kumar· India Today
6.0
Rani Mukerji takes the legacy ahead in a familiar, flawed, but purposeful film.
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Rishabh Suri· Hindustan Times
6.0
Mardaani 3 arrives with quiet confidence, fronted by Rani Mukerji, who has turned Shivani Shivaji Roy into less of a character and more of a moral force.
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Mayur Sanap· Rediff
5.0
My biggest gripe with Mardaani 3 is that, unlike its predecessors, the social message feels oddly superficial. The film takes the easy route, sticking to a straightforward hero-versus-villain story and sacrificing nuance for spectacle.
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Rahul Desai· HollywoodReporterIndia
Not rated
Rani Mukerji returns as the massy-emotions-donning supercop in 'Mardaani 3', a movie that’s too reheated and calculated to make an impact
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Anuj Kumar· The Hindu
Not rated
Soon, the veneer of social empathy and feminist tone gives way, and we can clearly see the product's formula: a fearless protagonist, blended with a hard-hitting social issue, taking on an intense antagonist. The experiment and freshness are limited to the introduction of the villain and their lair. After that, the writers serve Shivani's image and Rani's fans.
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Lachmi Deb Roy· Firstpost
Not rated
What a powerful performance by Rani Mukerji; she simply killed it. She unapologetically owns the franchise of 'Mardaani'. But you can't ignore Mallika Prasad's performance too.
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Cast & Crew

Cast

Details

Release Date
30 January 2026
Runtime
2h 11m
Language
Hindi

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