Some film franchises evolve. Some stay relevant. Mardaani does both by refusing to soften its gaze. With Mardaani 3, the makers once again lean into discomfort, reminding us why Shivani Shivaji Roy remains one of the strongest and most uncompromising female characters in Indian cinema. The trailer of Mardaani 3, unveiled on January 12, 2026, announces this intent loud and clear. There is no attempt to dress up the subject. No commercial sugarcoating. Just raw reality, framed as a relentless action thriller.
This chapter also marks a significant moment for Rani Mukerji, as the trailer kicks off celebrations of her 30-year journey in cinema. Instead of nostalgia, the film chooses rage. Directed by Abhiraj Minawal and written by Aayush Gupta, Mardaani 3 positions itself as the darkest entry in the franchise yet. From the very first frame, it is clear that this is not going to be an easy watch. Nor does it want to be.
Mardaani 3 Trailer
The trailer opens with a visual that immediately unsettles. A young girl being kidnapped. No dramatic background score at first. Just panic. Fear. Helplessness. Then comes a statistic that hits like a punch to the gut. “Thousand daughters go missing every week.” The line lingers longer than expected, refusing to be background noise. This is not a fictional number meant for effect. It sets the emotional tone of the trailer.
Soon after, news breaks of two girls being abducted from Bulandshahr. The case lands on the desk of Shivani Shivaji Roy, now associated with Delhi’s NIA. There is no hero entry. No slow-motion walk. Shivani arrives quietly, but with purpose. As she digs deeper, it becomes apparent that these are not isolated incidents. The network is vast. Organised. Ruthless. At the centre of it all stands a woman known only as Amma.
Played by Mallika Prasad, Amma emerges as one of the most disturbing antagonists the franchise has seen so far. She is calm. Calculated. And terrifying precisely because of her ordinariness. The idea that a woman is orchestrating the trafficking of young girls adds a deeply unsettling layer to the narrative. The trailer does not flinch while portraying this hypocrisy. Amma exploits children, discards them when they are no longer useful, and continues her business with chilling detachment.
A key moment arrives when Amma tries to bribe Shivani. The exchange is brief but loaded. Shivani’s response lands hard:
“I am a cop who won’t take cuts from people like you but will cut you.”
It is a line designed for applause, yes, but it also reinforces what Mardaani has always stood for. A cop who does not negotiate with evil.
A World Of Uncomfortable Truths
What makes the trailer particularly effective is how it balances action with unease. There are chase sequences. There are confrontations. There are glimpses of physical combat. But the emotional core remains intact. The horror here does not stem from violence alone. It comes from the systematic nature of the crime being portrayed.
Unlike many commercial thrillers, Mardaani 3 does not treat crime as spectacle. It treats it as a consequence. The idea that “Amma” continues her operation by using children, bribing officials, and manipulating systems feels painfully real. The trailer suggests that Shivani’s battle will not be against one villain, but against an ecosystem that protects monsters like Amma.
Direction, Mood, And Technical Aspects
Director Abhiraj Minawal seems to understand the grammar of the Mardaani universe. The trailer keeps things tight. There is no unnecessary exposition. Scenes cut sharply. Silence is used effectively in several places, especially during kidnapping sequences. This restraint works in the film’s favour.
The cinematography by Artur Zurawski lends the trailer a grim, grounded texture. There is very little gloss. Urban spaces feel cold. Police officers feel oppressive. Even daylight sequences look drained of warmth. This visual language supports the subject matter.
Editing by Yasha Jaidev Ramchandani keeps the momentum intact. The three-minute trailer never feels indulgent. It builds tension gradually instead of relying on sudden shock cuts. The background score remains minimalistic, allowing the scenes to breathe and disturb without artificial amplification.
Rani Mukerji As Shivani Shivaji Roy
At the centre of it all stands Rani Mukerji. As Shivani Shivaji Roy, she once again proves why this character has endured. There is no performative toughness here. Her strength lies in her calm. In her refusal to blink. In the quiet authority with which she carries herself.
Watch Mardaani 3 trailer:
The trailer hints that this might be Shivani’s most emotionally draining mission yet. There are moments where exhaustion flickers across her face. Anger simmers beneath the surface. But there is no self-doubt. Shivani remains unwavering, even when the system around her seems compromised.
This consistency is what makes the franchise work. Shivani has evolved, but she has not softened. And that is exactly what the subject demands.
Supporting Characters And Conflict
While the Mardaani 3 trailer keeps its focus firmly on Shivani and Amma, brief glimpses of Janki Bodiwala suggest an important supporting arc, possibly connected to the victims or the investigation. Her presence adds emotional weight, even in limited frames.
Mallika Prasad’s Amma is deliberately underplayed, and that is what makes her frightening. There is no loud villainy here. No grand speeches. Just quiet cruelty. The trailer smartly avoids revealing too much about her backstory, preserving intrigue for the film.
Final Take Mardaani 3 Trailer
The Mardaani 3 trailer does exactly what it sets out to do. It disturbs. It provokes. And it promises a hard-hitting thriller that refuses to dilute its message for comfort. This is not nostalgia-driven franchise filmmaking. This is socially-rooted storytelling wrapped in a gripping genre format.
By focusing on child trafficking and systemic complicity, Mardaani 3 positions itself as more than just another sequel. It looks ready to continue the franchise’s tradition of fearless storytelling, powered by a lead character who has never compromised.
If Mardaani 3 delivers even half the intensity promised by this trailer, audiences should brace themselves for an emotionally exhausting but necessary cinematic experience.
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