Daayra, the investigative crime thriller starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, will be released in cinemas on September 18, 2026. The film is directed by Meghna Gulzar and is inspired by true events.
The release date was officially announced on June 18, 2026, along with behind-the-scenes footage from the film’s sets. Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a video on social media to make the announcement. She wrote, ‘This one is for the books… Raw and unseen. A sneak peek behind the scenes of DAAYRA. #Daayra arrives in cinemas on 18th September.’
Prithviraj Sukumaran also shared the announcement with his followers. He wrote, ‘Some lines are drawn. Some are crossed. A choice awaits… just 3 months to go! #Daayra arrives in cinemas on 18th September.’
Plot and Characters
Daayra is an investigative crime thriller centered on two police officers who find themselves on opposite sides of a complicated moral and legal conflict. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar. Both are officers of the law, but their ideas of justice and responsibility place them on opposing sides.
The film explores the aftermath of a crime that grips the nation, sparking widespread outrage and setting two investigations in motion. As the search for answers deepens, the two senior police officers navigate the same system through different approaches to duty and justice.
Director Meghna Gulzar has described the film as an exploration of the grey areas between right and wrong. She has said that her background as a sociology student taught her that society is not simply black and white. Gulzar described Ajooni as ‘fiercely righteous’ and Raman as ‘righteously fierce’. She further described the pair as the film’s ‘Ying and Yang’.
Cast and Production
Daayra marks the first on-screen collaboration between Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The film also features Jitendra Joshi, Kshitee Jog, Kanwaljeet Singh, Sandeep Kulkarni and Trupti Khamkar in supporting roles.
The film is produced by Junglee Pictures and Dr. Jayantilal Gada (Pen Studios). It is distributed by Pen Marudhar.
The official trailer of Daayra was released on August 31, 2026. The two-minute 19-second trailer was shared by the makers on social media with the caption, ‘Some truths don’t come with easy answers. Enter the world of Daayra. #DaayraTrailer out now.’
In an exclusive interview with Filmfare, Meghna Gulzar said that raising questions is not a conscious choice for her but something she feels compelled to do as a storyteller. She said, ‘It’s not a criteria, it’s a compulsion. If I had an answer, I would have given it.’ She added, ‘But I have a lot of questions, I don’t have an answer. But I have to try to find an answer. And that’s what films do.’
Kareena Kapoor on Her Role
Kareena Kapoor Khan has spoken about the stereotypes attached to female cops in films. She said that female cops in Bollywood are expected to be ‘butch’ and ‘manly’. However, she explained that her character in Daayra is ‘like a woman’ and ‘feminine’.
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Kareena said, ‘I think there is this stereotypical version that we have of a cop: that she is butch and she slightly has that particular walk, slightly manly, is gun-toting and does action. I think in this film, because of the sensitivity of the subject of the film also, Meghna was clear that she wanted a woman cop.’
She explained director Meghna Gulzar’s vision and said, ‘Somebody who is like a woman, who is feminine, who puts on lipstick but at the same time is quite stern, does everything with a smile and the way you saw her character of Ajooni who walks the road.’
Kareena also spoke about working with Meghna Gulzar. She said, ‘What I loved about working with Meghna is that she makes you question everything you think you know about a character. There’s so much thought behind every detail, but she never takes away your instinct as an actor. Playing DCP Ajooni Kohli stayed with me… because she pushed me into a space I hadn’t really explored before, and at this stage in my career, that’s always exciting.’
Box Office Clash
Daayra was released alongside Kunal Kemmu’s directorial Vibe on September 18, 2026. The two films belong to different genres and were expected to cater to distinct audiences.
When Kareena Kapoor Khan was asked about the box office clash with her brother-in-law Kunal Kemmu’s film, she praised him and expressed confidence that both films would perform well. She said, ‘I think Kunal is an outstanding actor. One of the best we have in our industry. No one has comic timing like Kunal. It’s something that I feel is a good film… two cinemas, two great films, two wonderful films, and I know that the film is gonna do well.’
She added, ‘Yeah… the gold may come… gold toh mere ghar par hi aayega. So I am very happy ki dono picture chalegi toh… you know, my brother-in-law and me… why not?’
According to trade website Sacnilk, Vibe registered Rs 1.50 crore nett on its opening day, while Daayra earned an estimated Rs 90 lakh nett in India. Daayra was screened across 2,238 shows in India. The film opened in both Hindi and Malayalam.
Daayra has received mixed reviews from critics. News18 Showsha gave the film 3 stars, noting that it ‘manages to turn its gaze towards the uneasy line between revenge and justice while also examining media trials.’ The review added that the film’s ‘ideological clash makes for a compelling idea’ but ‘doesn’t always put those beliefs through enough consequences to make the debate truly resonate.’
The film is currently showing in cinemas.