MUMBAI: After directing Laaga Chunari Mein Daag for Yash Raj Films in 2007 and Lafanggey Parindey in 2010, Pradeep Sarkar is back with the production house all set to helm Mardaani.

Starring Rani Mukerji in the lead, who will play the role of a cop for the first time, the raw and gritty film will be YRF‘s boldest subject ever to be made and is a distinct departure from Sarkar‘s style of filmmaking.

Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film will go on floors by the last quarter of the year and is slated for a 2014 release worldwide.

In 2005, Sarkar made his directorial debut with the Vidya Balan, Saif Ali Khan-starrer Parineeta which earned him the national film award for best direction.