Mardaani 3 is not all about typical Bollywood entertainment. It comes with a warning. The third film in the franchise comes out of its comfort zone of a familiar cop thriller. The film walks straight into an unsettling, lived-in horror climax. At its centre stands Rani Mukerji: calm, furious, and resolute.

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Why Does Mardaani 3 Feel So Uncomfortable to Watch?

The film begins with the disturbing stories of missing girls, not one or two, but dozens. Files pile up, families plead, and the system moves slowly, if at all. Director Abhiraj Minawala keeps the camera close and the atmosphere heavy, refusing to soften the blows. Violence does not announce itself with background music. It arrives suddenly, often in silence, and leaves behind unease.

Mardaani 3 removes distractions entirely. There are no songs to breathe through, no humour to lighten the mood. The film wants the viewer to sit with the discomfort. It frames trafficking and exploitation not as plot devices but as daily realities that thrive on neglect.

What Has Changed About Shivani Shivaji Roy?

Rani Mukerji’s Shivani Shivaji Roy feels older, sharper, and visibly worn down. She does not deliver fiery speeches or dramatic threats. Instead, she listens more than she speaks. When she acts, she does so with purpose, not flourish. Mukerji plays Shivani as someone who knows the cost of caring and chooses to care anyway.

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The film allows Shivani moments of quiet frustration. Doors close. Files stall. People look away. These moments humanise the character far more than action scenes ever could. Shivani is not fighting just criminals here; she is fighting indifference.

Does the Villain Leave a Mark?

The film’s most chilling presence comes from Mallika Prasad, who plays Amma, the woman running the trafficking network. Prasad keeps her performance restrained and disturbingly calm. Amma does not shout or threaten. She believes she is right, and that certainty makes her terrifying.

Backed by Yash Raj Films, Mardaani 3 ends without easy catharsis. The climax chooses consequence over celebration, leaving viewers unsettled rather than satisfied.

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