‘Shivani is all set to inspire women yet again’

Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 2 has been in the news ever since it started rolling in March this year. The actress talks to us fromMumbai amid her hectic promotional schedule. She still takes her time and gives us a detailed backstory of how Mardaani 2 happened. “This isn’t a film that happened overnight. Mardaani released five years ago, when the entire nation was fuming over Nirbhaya’s incident. That film revolved around the story of trafficking young girls and reflected people’s anger towards crimes committed against women. Gopi Puthran’s story struck the right chord and a lot of people suggested that Mardaani deserves a sequel. Gopi came up with another unique storyline, we worked on it, and here I am with my fingers crossed as the film is all set to hit the screens on December 13,” she begins.

Rani adds that Mardaani 2 is a direct sequel to its predecessor. “Five years later, Shivani climbs up the ladder and is now the Superintendent of Police (SP), which means that I would directly investigate the cases unlike in the first part and can be seen wearing khaki for most of the film. Mardaani 2’s story revolves around underage crimes, which leads Shivani to various places,” she divulges.

Despite reprising the role, the actress says that she had to research further to play the role of an SP. “This is one of the most interesting things that happened to me in Mardaani 2. I met a lot of women police officials, listened to their inspiring stories and observed their body language. Most of us do not know about these unsung heroes of our nation. Shivani, is the portrayal of such bravehearts and will inspire young women of our nation,” says Rani with some confidence. The film is produced by her husband Aditya Chopra for one of country’s leading production house Yash Raj Films. “I have been a part of several films bankrolled by YRF even before I was married to Adi.They respect their artistes and treat them well,” she says.

It has been 19 years since Rani has been a part of a south film after Hey Ram and 15 years after Mani Ratnam’s Yuva that she has associated herself in a south director’s film. She breaks into a laughter on hearing this and says, “It wasn’t intentional at all. I will be happy to be a part of a south film. Filmmakers in south, who read this interview should know that I am game to listen to good scripts.”