Aditya Chopra's Yash Raj Films, the producer of Mardaani 3, shared a new poster earlier today, marking the special occasion of Navratri. The film brings back Rani Mukerji's IPS officer for what the makers say will be "the most challenging case in her career". The producer announced the sequel last December, and it is slated for a February 27, 2026, release.
The film is directed by Abhiraj Minawala, known for his work in producer Salman Khan's 2018 film Loveyatri: A Journey of Love. It reunites Abhiraj with YRF, for whom he has served as an assistant director on films such as Tiger 3, Sultan and Gunday.
The Mardaani franchise started with the 2014 film directed by the late Pradeep Sarkar. The first film, which puts a fresh spin on the usual cop-destroying-criminals formula of a thriller with an aggressive female protagonist, became a commercial and critical success. Its writer Gopi Puthran turned director for the second film in the franchise, which also earned appreciation from audiences and critics alike. Rani's performance in both films earned her plaudits, too, which eventually made her take pride in the film and her role. The actor recently said that the franchise made her realise the contribution she could make towards society as an "agent of change".
