Mardaani (2014)

Mardaani 2014: the film that started a trilogy

Mardaani 2014 is a Hindi crime thriller produced by Aditya Chopra for Yash Raj Films and directed by Pradeep Sarkar, from a screenplay by Gopi Puthran. It reached cinemas on 22 August 2014 and, going by its Wikipedia page, was well received by critics and did moderate business at the box office.

It matters more now than a standalone 2014 release might suggest, because it began a series. Mardaani 2, a prequel directed by Gopi Puthran, followed in December 2019, and Wikipedia lists Mardaani 3 as released on 30 January 2026. Anyone planning to catch up on the newer entries will find this is the natural place to start.

Where to watch and release details

The theatrical date of 22 August 2014 is confirmed. We did not find a source we trust for which streaming service currently carries the film in India, so we are not naming one; an Apple TV listing for it does exist, which suggests it can at least be rented or bought digitally, but check availability yourself. Runtime sources vary slightly, with one listing 113 minutes and another 111, and we have gone with 113, as in Wikipedia.

Cast and crew

Rani Mukerji plays Senior Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy. Tahir Raj Bhasin is Karan Rastogi, described as a Delhi-based trafficking kingpin, and Jisshu Sengupta plays her husband, Dr. Bikram Roy. Anant Vidhaat Sharma plays Sunny Katyal, Mona Ambegaonkar is Meenu Rastogi, and Avneet Kaur appears as Shivani's niece, Meera.

Sources note this was the last film Sarkar directed for Yash Raj before his death on 24 March 2023, which gives it some added weight for people who follow his career.

What to expect and who it suits

The premise places a woman cop at the centre of a procedural built around a serious crime, so expect an investigation-driven thriller rather than a comedy-tinged masala film. The subject, trafficking, is heavy, and viewers who prefer lighter evenings should factor that in before choosing it. Rani Mukerji leading a police story is the main hook for most people looking it up.

It also helps to know the film is a standalone story in its own right: you do not need the later sequels to follow it, and the series has since grown into three films across more than a decade. That longevity is a reason newcomers often start at the beginning.

We have not rewatched or reviewed it for this page and make no claims about how it plays today beyond what the sources record.