Rani Mukerji's latest crime thriller, "Mardaani 3," has arrived in Indian cinemas, marking a somewhat subdued opening day at the box office. Early estimates suggest the film has earned ₹1.96 crore on its first day. However, other reports indicate a higher figure, with Sacnilk estimating the first-day collection to be around ₹3.80 crore.
The film's opening day হিন্দি occupancy was 11.88%, with morning shows recording 8.97% and afternoon shows reaching 14.78%. Evening and night shows did not show significant turnout.
Industry trackers have noted that this is a slower-than-expected start for the "Mardaani" franchise, especially considering the positive reviews surrounding the film's narrative and performances. The film's release coincides with the continued strong performance of "Border 2," starring Sunny Deol, which has been dominating the box office. On the same Friday that "Mardaani 3" opened, "Border 2" added ₹30 crore to its collection, maintaining an overall Hindi occupancy of 9.91%. "Border 2" has already crossed the ₹200 crore mark in India and ₹300 crore worldwide.
"Mardaani 3" sees Rani Mukerji reprising her role as DCP Shivani Shivaji Roy, investigating the disappearance of 93 girls under mysterious circumstances. Produced by Yash Raj Films and directed by Abhiraj Minawala, the film continues the franchise's focus on gritty storytelling and strong female lead performances.
Despite the slow start, "Mardaani 3" had generated considerable buzz before its release. Advance bookings for the film reached ₹1.16 crore gross (excluding blocked seats) for day 1, with a 141% jump in the last 24 hours. Around 39,000 tickets were sold nationwide across approximately 5,000 shows. Maharashtra was the best-performing state in terms of advance bookings, followed by Delhi, Karnataka, and Gujarat.
The previous "Mardaani" films have been successful at the box office, with "Mardaani 2" earning ₹3.8 crores and "Mardaani" earning ₹3.75 crores. Trade analysts still have high expectations for "Mardaani 3," and positive audience reactions could lead to increased performance over the weekend.
