Bollywood star Rani Mukerji is thrilled with the success of “Mardaani 3,” but the actor says the commercial milestone is secondary to the conversation the films have sparked around crimes against women.
The franchise, which follows Mumbai supercop Shivani Shivaji Roy as she confronts predators targeting women and children, has now run for 12 years and three films – each taking on a distinct social crime.
With “Mardaani 3” now the highest-grossing entry in the franchise – surpassing its predecessors with INR71.7 crore ($7.8 million) worldwide – Mukerji says the numbers matter less to her than the awareness they represent. “It is great that we have scored a hattrick of hits with ‘Mardaani’ but that’s not as important as us trying to discuss very important social issues that deserve all our attention,” she says. “It will always be a call to address such crimes head on and tell us not to look away because it might not be affecting us.”
“Even if one girl is affected, targeted and attacked, it is the failure of our society that we haven’t been able to protect her,” Mukerji adds. “So, hopefully the conversation that the ‘Mardaani’ franchise has created for so many years has resulted into us being more aware and more careful and attentive.”
Reflecting on what the franchise’s sustained audience connect means to her, Mukerji says, “I have always believed that ‘Mardaani’ is not just a film, it is a voice – a voice for every woman who refuses to be silenced. The love and success of ‘Mardaani 3’ feels deeply personal, because it tells me that audiences are not just watching someone like Shivani Shivaji Roy’s journey, they are standing with her for justice, for the victory of good over evil.”
On the franchise’s staying power in a genre historically dominated by male stars, Mukerji credits its unflinching subject matter. “It’s not just a cop franchise – it’s about confronting truths that we often hesitate to look at. The crimes we address are uncomfortable and cinema has the power to hold up that mirror,” she says. “Most importantly, the ‘Mardaani’ franchise stands for the idea that fear should never win. And as long as that message remains relevant – I think the franchise will continue to find a place in people’s hearts.”
“Mardaani 3” is directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra for India’s Yash Raj Films.
variety.com
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