Mardaani 3 Box Office Collection Day 1: Rani Mukerji's Cop Drama Opens with Rs 3.8 Crore
Rani Mukerji's highly anticipated return to the big screen with Mardaani 3 has recorded a modest opening day collection of Rs 3.8 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. The film, which marks the third instalment in the popular cop franchise, sees Mukerji reprising her role as the formidable Shivani Shivaji Roy, tackling a case rooted in deep-seated societal issues.
Opening Day Performance and Occupancy Details
Released across approximately 2,345 shows nationwide, Mardaani 3 recorded an overall occupancy of 18.01% on its first day. The occupancy showed a steady improvement throughout the day:
- Morning shows: 8.97% occupancy
- Afternoon shows: 14.78% occupancy
- Evening shows: 17.13% occupancy
- Night shows: 31.14% occupancy
Region-wise, Mumbai performed the strongest with 381 shows and an occupancy of 26.75%, while Delhi-NCR led in show count with 526 shows but recorded a slightly lower occupancy of 18.75%.
Comparative Analysis with Other Films
While Mardaani 3's opening day collection of Rs 3.8 crore appears modest, it matches the exact opening day figure of its predecessor, Mardaani 2, which also earned Rs 3.8 crore upon its release in 2019. The film has also outperformed several of Rani Mukerji's recent releases:
- Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway: Rs 1.27 crore on day one
- Bunty Aur Babli 2: Rs 2.8 crore in its post-pandemic release
- Hichki: Rs 3.3 crore opening day
However, the film trails behind some contemporary releases. It lags significantly behind Yami Gautam's Article 370, which opened strongly at Rs 5.9 crore, and falls short of Alia Bhatt's Jigra, which earned Rs 4.25 crore on its first day. The film also continues to compete with last week's big release, Border 2, which earned Rs 11 crore on its eighth day and is playing across nearly 5,000 screens nationwide.
Context and Industry Perspective
The release of Mardaani 3 comes at a significant moment in Rani Mukerji's career as she completes 30 years in the Hindi film industry. Despite being backed by the prestigious Yash Raj Films, the film has had a relatively smaller release compared to other major productions. When viewed against similar female-led films, Mardaani 3 fares comparatively well, outperforming Kareena Kapoor's The Buckingham Murders (Rs 1.15 crore opening) and Yami Gautam's Haq (Rs 1.75 crore opening).
Future Prospects and Release Window
Looking ahead, Mardaani 3 is expected to benefit from a relatively clear release window, with no major competing releases scheduled until Shahid Kapoor's O Romeo arrives over the Valentine's Day weekend. The film's performance over the weekend will be crucial in determining whether the franchise value translates into sustained box office momentum. Industry observers will be watching closely to see if the positive reviews and Rani Mukerji's powerful performance can drive stronger collections in the coming days.
