Rani Mukheji's Mardaani Was Inspired By This Real-life Incident From 1994

Rani Mukherjee, renowned for her diverse Bollywood roles, delivered a standout performance in the film Mardaani. In this movie, she portrayed the character of a fearless police officer who unveils the dark secrets of human trafficking within the Indian Mafia operating in Mumbai. Critics and audiences alike lauded her performance in this intense role, directed by Pradeep Sarkar and featuring supporting actors Tahir Raj Bhasin, Jisshu Sengupta, and Saanand Verma. What many may not know is that Rani Mukherjee’s character in Mardaani was inspired by the real-life accomplishments of former Pune Police Chief Meeran Chadha Borwankar.

Meeran Borwankar, often referred to as Lady Supercop hails from the Fazilka district of Punjab and is a 1981 batch IPS officer. Her husband, Abhay Borwankar, is a retired IAS officer.

Meeran’s illustrious career in the Indian Police Service saw her serve in various cities throughout Maharashtra. She gained national recognition for her pivotal role in exposing the Jalgaon sex scandal in 1994. This scandal involved a widespread network of sexual exploitation in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra, targeting school and college girls who were deceived, drugged, and, at times, subjected to brutal assaults by influential businessmen, political leaders, and criminals. Many of the victims were coerced into prostitution. The scandal, which affected an estimated 300-500 girls over 5-12 years, was unveiled by IPS Meeran Borwankar, resulting in multiple arrests and making her an overnight hero.

Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani drew its inspiration from the Jalgaon sex scandal exposed by Meeran Borwankar in 1994. The film portrayed the actress’s character rescuing young girls ensnared in this nightmarish web of exploitation, effectively embodying Meeran Borwankar’s courageous role in real life.

In recent headlines, the former IPS officer has garnered attention due to the release of her book titled Madam Commissioner. In this book, she makes allegations against the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, although she refrains from naming him directly. Meeran Borwankar’s continued dedication to justice and her outspoken account of her experiences underline her remarkable career in law enforcement.