Mardaani 3, starring Rani Mukerji, ends its first week with modest box office numbers. Despite steady daily earnings, the film trails Mardaani 2 and struggles to recover its high budget, raising doubts about its overall success.
Rani Mukerji’s Power-Packed Performance Shines in Mardaani 3
Mumbai: Mardaani has long been regarded as one of Bollywood’s most successful female-led franchises, with Rani Mukerji’s fierce portrayal of a determined police officer earning both critical and commercial praise. Naturally, expectations were high from Mardaani 3, which hit theatres on January 30, 2026. However, the film’s first-week performance suggests that it has not lived up to the hype generated around it.
According to official box office figures, Mardaani 3 earned ₹2 crore on Day 7, continuing its steady but modest trend at the ticket counters. The film has largely hovered around the ₹2 crore mark since its release, indicating a lack of strong growth through word of mouth. Compared to the ₹2.10 crore collected on Day 6, the seventh day saw a further drop of around 10%, signaling waning audience interest.
After completing its first week, the film’s total net collection in India stands at ₹26.55 crore. While this figure may appear decent on the surface, it falls short when viewed in the context of the franchise’s legacy and the film’s substantial budget.
Mardaani 3 has been made on an estimated budget of ₹60 crore. With only about 44% of its cost recovered in the opening week, the film is far from entering the “safe zone.”
At its current pace, trade analysts believe it will struggle to break even, let alone earn a success verdict. The coming days may prove even more challenging, as new releases like Vadh 2 and Shahid Kapoor’s O’Romeo are expected to divert audiences, especially during the Valentine’s Day weekend.
The film started with a moderate opening of ₹4 crore on Day 1, followed by an improved ₹6 crore on Day 2 and a weekend peak of ₹7.25 crore on Day 3. However, collections dropped sharply on weekdays, with earnings falling below ₹3 crore from Day 4 onwards. This sharp decline indicates that the film failed to sustain momentum after the opening weekend.
When compared to earlier installments, Mardaani 3 presents a mixed picture. It has managed to perform slightly better than the first Mardaani, which earned ₹23 crore in its opening week. However, it has failed to surpass Mardaani 2, which collected ₹28.05 crore in its first seven days. Given the expectations surrounding a third installment, this shortfall has been widely viewed as disappointing.
Despite Rani Mukerji’s strong screen presence, Mardaani 3 has not been able to recreate the magic of its predecessor. Unless collections witness a significant turnaround in the coming weeks, the film is likely to remain one of the more underwhelming entries in the franchise.
