Mardaani 2

Rani Mukerji Returns as Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 2—Behind the Scenes of the Gritty Sequel

Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani (2014) introduced audiences to Shivani Shivaji Roy, a no-nonsense Mumbai cop tackling child trafficking. Five years later, the franchise returned with Mardaani 2 (2019), this time pitting Roy against a sadistic young killer. Directed by Gopi Puthran—who also wrote the first film—the sequel amped up the brutality, the stakes, and the behind-the-scenes buzz. latestnetflix.com's view is that here’s what we know about the making of the film, from Mukerji’s preparation to the casting controversy that nearly derailed production.

Rani Mukerji’s Relentless Prep: "I Became Shivani"

Mukerji didn’t just reprise her role; she lived it. In interviews, she revealed the extreme lengths she went to embody Shivani’s physical and mental toughness. "I trained in mixed martial arts, Krav Maga, and even learned how to handle a gun like a real cop," she said in a Screen interview. The actress, known for her method acting, admitted she stayed in character off-camera, refusing to break the intensity even between takes.

Her dedication paid off—fans and critics called Mardaani 2 her "best work so far". Mukerji, however, downplayed the praise, insisting the role was a team effort. "It’s not just me. The entire crew, from Gopi to the stunt directors, pushed me to go further," she said in a response video. Still, the trailer’s raw aggression—Mukerji chasing down criminals, trading blows, and delivering bone-chilling threats—left little doubt: Shivani was back, and fiercer than ever.

Vishal Jethwa: The Villain Who Shocked Everyone

If Mukerji’s Shivani was the film’s moral center, Vishal Jethwa’s Sunny was its nightmare fuel. Cast as the film’s primary antagonist—a remorseless, misogynistic killer—Jethwa’s performance was so unsettling that it sparked conversations about method acting’s toll. In a now-deleted interview (referenced in), Mukerji revealed Jethwa’s commitment went beyond the script: "He didn’t tell me he was working with a dialect coach to perfect Sunny’s slang. I found out later, and honestly, it scared me a little."

The dynamic between the two leads was electric, but not without friction. Mukerji admitted in the same interview that Jethwa’s intensity sometimes bled into real life: "There were moments on set where I had to remind myself, ‘This is Vishal, not Sunny.’". The trailer’s most chilling moment—a close-up of Jethwa’s Sunny smirking as he taunts Shivani—hinted at the on-screen chemistry that made their cat-and-mouse game so gripping.

Casting Drama: The Actor Who Almost Walked

Behind the scenes, Mardaani 2 hit a snag when an unnamed cast member allegedly clashed with the director. Rumors swirled that a supporting actor (later speculated to be Prasanna Ketkar, who played a police officer) was unhappy with their role’s limited screen time and threatened to exit the project. Mukerji addressed the tension obliquely in a Hindi interview: "There were disagreements, but Gopi handled it like a pro. We’re a team, and we had to focus on the story".

The issue was resolved quietly, but it underscored the pressure of delivering a sequel to a hit film. With Yash Raj Films (YRF) backing the project, expectations were sky-high, and the budget reportedly doubled that of the first film. (Exact figures remain unconfirmed, but industry whispers pegged it at ₹30–35 crore.)

The Trailer That Divided Fans

When YRF dropped the Mardaani 2 trailer in November 2019, reactions were split. Some praised its unflinching violence and Mukerji’s commanding presence, while others criticized it as "exploitative". A Brutal Reality Checkup review called it "a masterclass in tension" but questioned whether the film’s dark themes would resonate with mainstream audiences. The trailer’s most talked-about moment—a brutal hand-to-hand fight scene in a dimly lit alley—became a litmus test for viewers’ tolerance for grit.

Critics, however, were kinder. The film holds a 75% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise for its pacing and Mukerji’s performance. One reviewer noted, "It’s not just an action film; it’s a character study of a woman pushed to her limits".

The Verdict: A Sequel That Delivered—Mostly

Mardaani 2 didn’t reinvent the wheel, but it didn’t need to. As a follow-up, it doubled down on what worked: Mukerji’s star power, a terrifying villain, and a plot that kept audiences on the edge of their seats. The behind-the-scenes drama—from Mukerji’s method acting to Jethwa’s immersive villainy—added layers to a film that could’ve easily been a forgettable cash grab.

Was it perfect? No. The pacing dragged in places, and some subplots (like Shruti Bapna’s journalist character) felt underdeveloped. But for fans of the original, Mardaani 2 was a satisfying, if brutal, return to form.