New Delhi, Feb 12 (.) Rani Mukerji’s ‘Mardaani 3’ is shaping up to be the lowest-grossing instalment in the franchise.
While the first two films, Mardaani (2014) and Mardaani 2 (2019), earned Rs 56.71 crore and Rs 67 crore worldwide respectively, the third chapter is expected to finish well below Rs 50 crore in India.
Mixed reviews and stronger competition from ‘Border 2’ have contributed to its underwhelming box office performance.
In 13 days, ‘Mardaani 3’ has collected Rs 39.80 crore domestically. While the second weekend brought some relief after a slow start, the coming weekend is expected to hit the film harder, with Shahid Kapoor’s O Romeo and the survival thriller ‘Tu Yaa Main’ taking over screens.
Internationally, Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ is also expected to perform well in India as it coincides with Valentine’s Day. With fewer screens and limited hype, ‘Mardaani 3’ is likely to be declared a flop.
Trade analyst Sumit Kadel notes that the film needed to gross Rs 60–70 crore to earn a hit verdict, far from what it achieved.
As for streaming, ‘Mardaani 3’ will not hit OTT immediately. Following the standard eight-week window after theatrical release, the Netflix-acquired film is expected to be available on the platform after March 27. . MI