{"id":175,"date":"2026-09-19T11:31:14","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T11:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saiyaaramovie.com\/?p=175"},"modified":"2026-10-02T15:47:06","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T15:47:06","slug":"daayra-opens-to-low-box-office-collections-as-meghna-gulzars-crime-thriller-hits-theatres","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/saiyaaramovie.com\/?p=175","title":{"rendered":"Daayra Opens to Low Box Office Collections as Meghna Gulzar’s Crime Thriller Hits Theatres"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meghna Gulzar’s investigative crime thriller Daayra was released in cinemas on September 18, 2026. The film, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles, opened to an estimated Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1 crore nett on its first day in India.<\/p>\n

The film recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 11.65 percent on Friday and was screened across 2,238 shows in the country, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. Daayra released in both Hindi and Malayalam, with the Hindi version accounting for the bulk of its opening-day earnings.<\/p>\n

Plot and Themes<\/h3>\n

Daayra is inspired by true events and follows the aftermath of a controversial police encounter linked to a rape-and-murder case. The story centers on two senior police officers who find themselves on opposing sides of the same system.<\/p>\n

Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar, an officer who delivers immediate lethal retribution to the suspects under the guise of an encounter. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, a strict vigilance officer tasked with investigating the incident.<\/p>\n

The film’s narrative explores the moral grey area between institutional justice and uniformed vigilantism. The plot appears to have been based on the killing of four Hyderabad men in 2019 who were taken to the spot where they had allegedly raped and killed a young woman.<\/p>\n

Cast and Production<\/h3>\n

Daayra is directed by Meghna Gulzar, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Yash Keswani and Sima Agarwal. The film is produced by Vineet Jain under Junglee Pictures along with Dr Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios. It is distributed by Pen Marudhar.<\/p>\n

The supporting cast includes Jitendra Joshi, Kshitee Jog, Kanwaljeet Singh, Sandeep Kulkarni, and Trupti Khamkar. The film’s music is composed by Amit Trivedi with lyrics by Gulzar. The cinematography is by Saurabh Goswami.<\/p>\n

Promotional Events<\/h3>\n

Ahead of the release, the makers hosted a music launch event in Mumbai on September 11, 2026. The event was attended by Meghna Gulzar’s father, legendary lyricist Gulzar, along with the film’s lead cast.<\/p>\n

At the event, Kareena Kapoor Khan described working with Meghna Gulzar as a full-circle moment, noting that Gulzar and her mother-in-law Sharmila Tagore have shared a long-standing association through cinema. The film’s only song, Sach Ka Daayra, was unveiled at the event.<\/p>\n

A press conference and special screening were held in Delhi on September 16, 2026, at PVR ECX Chanakyapuri. Vineet Jain, MD of Times Group, attended the event and praised the film’s script.<\/p>\n

Director’s Vision<\/h3>\n

Meghna Gulzar said the difficulty in Daayra lies in refusing to reduce the conflict to a simple choice between two sides. She said the moral conundrum overlaps on both the strict letter of the law and the delivery of justice.<\/p>\n

The director said the film seeks to raise questions rather than provide answers. She said the crime is just the seed of the story, and the film explores what happens after that as a consequence.<\/p>\n

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