Bring out your mardaana: Rani to girls

Women-centric film addresses the issue of girl trafficking.

MUMBAI: Actor Rani Mukerji, who was last seen in well-received film Talaash, will be returning to the big screen after a two-year-long hiatus with the upcoming film Mardaani. She hopes the film, which focuses on the issue of girl trafficking, appeals to the audience. So that its team can work towards a second instalment.

“I hope the film works, so that we can come up with Mardaani 2 and tell another story that will make an impact. I think more films like Mardaani should be made,” she said. “Mardaani carries the message of women empowerment,” said Rani.

“It is time that women take up matters such as self-protection into their own hands,” she added. Referring to how parents worry when their daughters step foot out of the house, she commented, “I don’t want any girl to be dependent on her father or brother to go somewhere just because she is scared.”

Rani feels it is high time girls should be self-reliant. “I want girls to enroll in self-defense classes like karate and kickboxing,” she said. Mardaani is coming out with an ‘A’ certificate. “Unfortunately, in our country, we don’t have a separate censor certificate for people above 12 years and below 18 years. Either we have an ‘A’ certificate, which is only for adults or ‘UA’ certificate for people of all ages,” said Rani.

“I would love it if people, especially women and girls across all age groups watch the film. It will inspire girls to speak their mind, be brave and bring out their ‘mardaana’ (brave and bold) spirit,” she said.  Directed by Pradeep Sarkar, Mardaani, which sees Rani as a police officer, hits the screens on Friday. 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2014.

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