Mallika Prasad Breaks New Ground as Mardaani 3's First Female Antagonist Amma
The Mardaani franchise, starring Rani Mukerji and produced by Yash Raj Films, has built its reputation on formidable villains who challenge top cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. In a significant departure, Mardaani 3 introduces the series' first female antagonist, Amma, portrayed by theatre artist and acting teacher Mallika Prasad.
A Bold Narrative Shift: Women as Villains
Mallika Prasad emphasizes that casting a woman as the villain represents a powerful move for the franchise. "One of the crucial things the franchise has done is to flip around the villain. Thus far, Shivani Shivaji Roy is beating up the man responsible for crimes against women. But this flip to a woman antagonist is very interesting," she explains.
She argues that this choice underscores a deeper truth: "It says that evil is gender-neutral. Power, unrestricted and unaccounted for, corrupts whoever is holding it, whether it's a man or a woman. It's not binary." When asked if this implies women perpetuate crimes against other women, Mallika firmly rejects the notion, stating, "No, that's a man's story. Bury it before it's even stated."
The Complexity of Amma: A Villain with Depth
Amma, the head of a human trafficking racket, is a layered character. Mallika describes her as having motherly instincts that she weaponizes to exploit young girls. "That makes us think about our nature as human beings. So long as it's our child, it's the mother's instinct. But everything else is about profit," she notes.
She manipulates victims by promising freedom or a better future, only to drug and exploit them. "To an extent, all of us are like that. When it comes to our own, we're all motherly. But otherwise we're the perfect monster," Mallika reflects, highlighting the character's moral ambiguity.
Empathy for a Monster: Understanding Amma's Journey
Despite her crimes, Mallika expresses pride in Amma, particularly her resilience. "I'm actually very proud of Amma. She's a woman from the streets," she says, emphasizing the character's rise from adversity. Amma's backstory reveals she was exploited at age 13, losing her organs, yet she ascended to become a crime lord.
Mallika, as an actor, prioritizes empathy. "When you see somebody rise from nothing, you'll recognize that it couldn't have been for nothing. You realize the toll it took on them. That's where you get empathy from a character so different from your own life," she explains.
Mallika's Own Hustle: From Theatre to Mardaani 3
Mallika's path to the role mirrors her character's determination. She was discovered by casting director Shanoo Sharma after her performance in Netflix's Killer Soup. "Shanoo told me this two days ago when I asked her. I've gotten even my earlier work on the basis of my previous work," she shares.
She credits Shanoo and producer Aditya Chopra for her opportunity, noting that Chopra gave her minimal feedback, simply loving her performance. This places her alongside previous Mardaani villains like Vishal Jethwa and Tahir Raj Bhasin.
Challenges and Future Aspirations
Unlike her predecessors, Mallika did not share scenes directly with Rani Mukerji, using stand-ins instead. "That's actually something you have to learn to do, to stay within the continuity. I'd much rather imagine the other character in the empty space there," she admits.
Looking ahead, Mallika is mindful of being typecast as a villain but remains optimistic. "Sometimes, that's the journey an actor also crafts. But there have been people who've done a very different thing from their last one," she says, citing actors like Fahadh Faasil who diversify their roles. "I imagine I want to do that too. Sometimes, the same story told by somebody else will be a completely new world," she concludes, embodying Amma's intense gaze.
