In her role as the formidable antagonist in Rani Mukerji’s `Mardaani 3`, actress Mallika Prasad shared her thoughts on the shifting dynamics for female villains in the film industry. During an interview with ANI, she emphasized the increasing acceptance of women portraying darker roles, revealing her desire to delve into such characters. “I’ve been curious about what it means to embody a villain. While I’m no stranger to complex characters, I’m eager to see how audiences respond to female villains in mainstream cinema. After all, in my era, `Mogambo` stood as the ultimate villain—imagine a woman stepping into such an iconic role,” she remarked.
Prasad acknowledged the progress made in female-centric narratives but also pointed out the lingering disparity between male and female actors. “The world has been ready for feminine representation for ages. Coming from a background that values audience intuition, I believe that compromising on content doesn’t contribute to an artist’s growth. While support for male actors often overshadows that for women, it’s heartening to see an increasing number of women involved in every aspect of filmmaking,” she explained.
Recalling her brief encounters with Rani Mukerji during the film’s muhurat puja, Mallika praised Rani’s strong presence and her impactful legacy in the industry. “Our shooting schedules were often separate, so we didn’t interact much on set. However, I remember her welcoming me warmly, saying, ‘Welcome to the franchise.’ Collaborating with powerful women like Rani is truly inspiring. Her journey to success must have been challenging,” she noted.
In `Mardaani 3`, Mallika takes on the role of the ruthless and cunning `Amma`, who leads a beggar mafia that preys on children. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, this film marks Rani Mukerji’s return as Shivani Shivaji Roy.