Mumbai, India – Yash Raj Films released the trailer for "Mardaani 3" on Monday, January 12, 2026, revealing actress Rani Mukerji's return as fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. The film features Roy in a race against time to find 93 young girls who have disappeared. She confronts a new and ruthless antagonist, a mafia queen known as "Amma," played by Mallika Prasad. The much-anticipated thriller is set to hit theaters on January 30, 2026, after its release date was moved up from February. ^[1][2][3]### A Race Against Time for Missing Girls The "Mardaani 3" trailer opens with a stark message about thousands of daughters going missing weekly in a country that reveres goddesses. It quickly establishes the grim scale of the crisis facing Shivani Shivaji Roy. Roy, now part of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), takes on a chilling case involving 93 girls, aged between eight and eleven, who have vanished over three months. T^[1][4][5]he investigation reveals the girls are part of a meticulously organized crime ring and a beggar mafia network. S^[1][4]hivani must relentlessly pursue justice, with every hour critical to rescuing the abducted children. ^[1]### Mallika Prasad Transforms into Ruthless 'Amma' This installment marks a significant shift for the "Mardaani" franchise as Shivani Shivaji Roy confronts a female antagonist for the first time. Mallika Prasad portrays "Amma," a powerful and sinister figure who controls a beggar mafia network. A^[1][6][3]mma emerges as a formidable foe, operating with chilling precision and hiding a larger, disturbing agenda behind the disappearances. P^[1]rasad, a National Award-winning actress with a background in theater, television, and film, brings a unique intensity to the role. S^[6][7][8][9]he described playing Amma as "one of the most defining experiences" of her career, noting the character "challenged me in ways I did not anticipate." ^[9]### Franchise Legacy and Social Commentary The "Mardaani" series has consistently tackled urgent social issues, with the first film in 2014 focusing on human trafficking and the 2019 sequel exploring violent crimes against women. "^[10][5]Mardaani 3" continues this tradition, delving into the dark reality of child exploitation and organized crime through the beggar mafia. R^[10][5]ani Mukerji has spoken about the franchise allowing her to salute the spirit of contemporary women and the resilience of the Indian police force, particularly female officers. S^[10]he describes Shivani Shivaji Roy as embodying "quiet strength" rather than overt heroism. A^[10]bhiraj Minawala directs the film, with Aditya Chopra producing under the Yash Raj Films banner, and Aayush Gupta writing the script. ^[1][11][3]### Audience Reactions and Comparisons The release of the "Mardaani 3" trailer has generated considerable buzz, promising a tense and uncompromising thriller. H^[1][6]owever, some viewers have drawn parallels between the film's premise and Netflix's "Delhi Crime Season 3," which also explored a human trafficking ring led by a female antagonist. D^[4][12][13]espite these comparisons, Yash Raj Films expressed Shivani Shivaji Roy's determination to find the missing girls, stating, "Each rescue comes at a cost that she is ready to pay." ^[13]"Mardaani 3" is poised to deliver an edge-of-the-seat suspense experience combined with powerful social commentary. T^[1]he film, starring Rani Mukerji, Mallika Prasad, and Janki Bodiwala, is set for release on January 30, 2026. ^[1][11][14]

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