Rani Mukerji’s return as the indomitable Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3 has seen a consistent, albeit modest, start at the box office. Released on January 30, 2026, the film earned approximately ₹3.80 crore (Net India) on its opening day.
Interestingly, this figure mirrors the opening day collections of the franchise’s previous installment, Mardaani 2 (2019), which also debuted at ₹3.80 crore.
Opening Day Breakdown
While the initial morning shows started with a lower occupancy, the film witnessed a significant jump in footfalls as the day progressed, particularly in urban centers.
- India Net Collection: ₹3.80 crore
- Worldwide Gross: ₹6.75 crore (estimated)
- Average Occupancy: 18.01% (surging to over 31% for night shows)
- Top Markets: Mumbai and Delhi NCR remained the strongest territories for the film.
The Franchise Comparison
The Mardaani series has always relied on strong word-of-mouth rather than massive opening day explosions. Mardaani 3 continues this trend, though it faces stiff competition from the ongoing blockbuster run of Border 2.
| Film | Release Year | Day 1 Collection (Net) |
| Mardaani | 2014 | ₹3.46 crore |
| Mardaani 2 | 2019 | ₹3.80 crore |
| Mardaani 3 | 2026 | ₹3.80 crore |
Budget vs. Performance
Trade reports suggest that Mardaani 3 has been mounted on a higher budget than its predecessors, estimated between ₹60 crore and ₹75 crore. With a more expensive production cost, analysts suggest the film will need a substantial “weekend jump” to ensure it reaches a hit status, especially since the first two films concluded their lifetime runs at ₹35.82 crore and ₹47.35 crore respectively.