Punjab Newsline,Film :
YRF Rejects Claims of Paid PR, Says Film’s Promotion Is Ethical and Transparent
The makers of the upcoming Bollywood film ‘Mardaani 3’, starring Rani Mukerji, have firmly denied allegations suggesting that the film’s promotional campaign was linked to reports of missing people in the national capital to generate publicity. The controversy emerged after the Delhi Police flagged what they described as a paid promotional push creating unnecessary panic around the issue of missing girls in the city.
On Friday, the Delhi Police issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), stating that after examining multiple leads, they found that the narrative around a sudden surge in missing girls was being amplified through paid promotion. The police warned that spreading fear for monetary or promotional gain would not be tolerated and that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
Responding to these allegations, a spokesperson for Yash Raj Films (YRF) issued a clarification to IANS, strongly denying any involvement in such practices. The spokesperson said that YRF, a company with a legacy of over 50 years, operates on principles of ethics and transparency. The statement added that the production house categorically rejects claims circulating on social media that ‘Mardaani 3’ deliberately sensationalised a sensitive and serious issue for promotional purposes. YRF further expressed full confidence in the authorities and stated that all facts and truths would emerge in due course.
The controversy has drawn attention to official data on missing persons in Delhi. Earlier media reports stated that 807 people were reported missing in the city this year, averaging around 54 cases per day. Among them were 509 women and girls and 298 men. The data also indicated that 191 of the missing individuals were minors, while 616 were adults. During this period, police traced 235 individuals, while 572 cases remained unresolved.
Looking at previous years, official records show that in 2025, more than 24,500 people were reported missing in Delhi. Women accounted for over 60 percent of these cases, and more than 9,000 cases were still unresolved by the end of the year.
However, addressing public concern, the Delhi Police clarified that there has been no unusual spike in missing cases in 2026. According to the police, the monthly average of missing cases has remained consistent at around 2,000 cases per month, indicating a stable trend rather than a sudden surge.