'Mardaani 3' director Abhiraj Minawala recalls seeing Yash Chopra 'learn and ask questions' on ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ sets

‘Mardaani 3’ is receiving strong praise for its gripping storytelling and intense subject. Rani Mukerji returns in commanding form as fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy, once again anchoring the franchise with a powerful performance. Now, director Abhiraj Minawala has reflected on the invaluable lessons he learned years ago while assisting legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra on ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’.Minawala believes true artists never stop evolving, a principle he witnessed firsthand on set with Yash Chopra. Even at an advanced age, the veteran director remained curious and engaged. Recalling that experience, Minawala said, “I think a sign of a great actor, artist or technician is that you never stop learning and you never stop working on your craft. I got the chance to learn this from Mr. Yash Chopra himself when I assisted him on Jab Tak Hai Jaan.” Minawala admired Chopra’s humility and work ethic, noting how he continued asking questions and absorbing new ideas despite decades of success. He added, “I used to see an 80-year-old man on set not just run the show, but also learn and ask questions to technicians. I’ve seen a lot of actors do that — Shah Rukh Khan as well — and I’ve seen Rani ma’am do that too. When you come to set every day knowing that you’re collaborating with different people and that you’re also going to have a learning experience, that openness helps your performance.”For Minawala, collaborating closely with Rani Mukerji was central to building the film’s world. Instead of reinventing the character, he focused on understanding Shivani more deeply. He spent time discussing the role with Rani before filming began so their vision stayed aligned. “Part of my prep process was that I just wanted to sit down with Rani Mukerji. I had read the story and worked on it in terms of my own breakdowns, learnings and understanding how she was seeing the film — not just as Rani Mukerji, but also how she was seeing it as Shivani,” he explained.Minawala emphasized creating a realistic environment around her so the character felt grounded rather than overly heroic. “How she saw herself in different spaces. That really helped me create the world around her. It was very important to keep a very natural and real space around her so that it feels seamless for the audience — not like a hero popping out in every scene. That was a very important thing for us," he added.Directed by Abhiraj Minawala, ‘Mardaani 3’ continues the journey of Shivani Shivaji Roy as she investigates a disturbing case involving the disappearance of dozens of young girls over a short period. The film stars Rani Mukerji alongside Janki Bodiwala and Mallika Prasad.