Rani Mukerji has returned to cinemas as the fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy with Mardaani 3, the third instalment of Yash Raj Films’ popular crime thriller franchise. While the film has opened to positive word of mouth and strong praise for Rani’s performance, its box office journey has begun under challenging circumstances, facing stiff competition from Sunny Deol’s blockbuster Border 2.
Mardaani 3 Day 1 Box Office Collection
According to early estimates from industry tracker Sacnilk, Mardaani 3 collected approximately ₹3.8 crore on its opening day. The film was released across around 2,345 screens nationwide, recording an overall occupancy of 18.01 percent.
Morning shows opened on a slow note with occupancy under 9 percent. However, footfalls gradually improved through the day. Afternoon shows saw moderate growth, while evening screenings performed better. The film received its strongest push during night shows, where occupancy crossed the 30 percent mark in several centres.
City-Wise Performance and Screen Allocation
Delhi-NCR recorded the highest number of shows for Mardaani 3, while Mumbai witnessed comparatively stronger audience turnout per show. Despite this, the film’s overall screen count remained limited due to the continued dominance of Border 2, which is still running on nearly 5,000 screens across India.
Sunny Deol’s film, currently in its second week, earned around ₹11 crore on its eighth day, pushing its total collection beyond ₹235 crore. This has significantly impacted show allocation for new releases, including Mardaani 3.
Comparable Openings and Franchise Performance
Interestingly, Mardaani 3 has matched the opening-day collection of Mardaani 2, which also earned ₹3.8 crore when it released in 2019. The film has also performed better on day one compared to several of Rani Mukerji’s recent releases, including Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway, Bunty Aur Babli 2, and Hichki.
Given the serious subject matter and adult-skewing appeal of the franchise, trade analysts believe the opening can be considered steady rather than disappointing, especially in a crowded box office scenario.
Audience Response and Word of Mouth
Early audience reactions have largely praised Rani Mukerji’s intense and commanding performance, with many viewers highlighting the film’s gripping second half and emotional impact. While some felt the pacing in the first half was slow, the overall response remains positive, which could help the film gain momentum over the weekend.
Being backed by Yash Raj Films, expectations were naturally high, but trade observers note that Mardaani 3 may rely heavily on word of mouth and weekend growth rather than a massive opening.
About Mardaani 3
Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and written by Aayush Gupta, Mardaani 3 follows Shivani Shivaji Roy as she joins the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate the mysterious disappearance of 93 young girls within a short span of time. What begins as a missing persons case soon unravels a disturbing nexus involving human trafficking and organised crime.
The film also stars Janki Bodiwala and Mallika Prasad in pivotal roles and continues the franchise’s tradition of addressing hard-hitting social issues through a crime-thriller lens.
What Lies Ahead
As Mardaani 3 heads into its first weekend, its box office trajectory will depend largely on audience reception and sustained word of mouth, especially amid strong competition from Border 2. While the opening numbers are modest, the franchise’s credibility and Rani Mukerji’s performance could help the film find stability in the days ahead.
