Daayra Movie Review: Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Crime Thriller Explores Law, Justice and Morality
Daayra Movie review: Read about Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s crime thriller, story, performances, direction and critical response.
Daayra Movie Review: An Investigative Thriller With Difficult Questions
Daayra is a crime thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar and featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on 18 September 2026 and has a runtime of approximately 2 hours 23 minutes. It revolves around a controversial criminal investigation that puts two senior police officers on different sides of the same system.
The film takes a serious approach to questions surrounding justice, police accountability, morality and the limits of the law. Rather than presenting its central conflict as a simple battle between good and evil, Daayra attempts to explore the grey areas that emerge when legal procedure and personal ideas of justice collide.
Daayra Movie Story and Plot
The story follows DCP Raman Kumar, played by Prithviraj Sukumaran, and DCP Ajooni Kohli, played by Kareena Kapoor Khan. A controversial case brings the two officers into conflict as they investigate different aspects of a disturbing crime. The investigation gradually raises questions about truth, accountability and the way justice should be pursued.
The film is inspired by true events, although it presents its own fictionalized narrative and characters. The trailer establishes a tense investigation involving a serious crime and a subsequent police encounter, creating the central moral conflict of the film.
This setup gives Daayra an opportunity to move beyond a conventional police thriller. The focus is not simply on identifying criminals but also on examining the decisions made by the people responsible for enforcing the law.
Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Performances
Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, while Prithviraj Sukumaran portrays DCP Raman Kumar. Their characters represent different approaches to the case, allowing the film to build much of its tension through their professional and moral conflict.
Early reviews have particularly highlighted the performances of both leads. Zoom TV described the two actors as giving the investigation emotional and moral weight, while other reviews have noted that their contrasting characters provide the film with its central dramatic tension.
Kshitee Jog also receives attention for her role as the victim’s mother. Glamsham noted that her performance provides an emotional grounding to portions of the story that are otherwise focused heavily on police procedures and investigation.
Meghna Gulzar’s Direction
Meghna Gulzar has previously explored socially relevant and investigative subjects in films such as Talvar, Raazi and Chhapaak. With Daayra, she once again turns toward a story where personal decisions intersect with larger questions about society and justice.
The film’s direction appears deliberately restrained rather than relying entirely on conventional thriller elements. According to Glamsham, the background score remains relatively subtle, allowing the performances and situations to carry much of the tension.
The approach has received mixed critical interpretations. Some reviewers have praised the film for raising difficult questions without giving audiences an easy answer, while Amar Ujala argued that the screenplay and climax leave some of those questions insufficiently resolved.
Daayra Movie Review: What Works
One of the strongest elements of Daayra is its central subject. Instead of focusing only on the investigation, the movie explores the complicated relationship between law, justice and accountability.
The performances of Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran are another major talking point. Their characters have different perspectives, which creates an interesting dynamic throughout the investigation.
The first half has also received positive comments from some critics for establishing the atmosphere and conflict effectively. Aaj Tak described the film as a serious crime thriller that keeps its central question at the forefront, while Zoom TV praised its treatment of the subject and performances.
Daayra Movie Review: Where the Film May Divide Audiences
The critical response is not completely uniform. Some reviewers have found the screenplay less effective as the film progresses. Amar Ujala, for example, felt that portions of the investigation become stretched and that the climax creates a sense of confusion rather than providing a satisfying resolution.
Glamsham similarly observed that while the first half is promising, the film ultimately does not explore all of the larger questions as deeply as its premise initially suggests.
This difference in critical response suggests that audiences looking for a fast-paced commercial thriller may experience Daayra differently from viewers interested in its social and moral themes.
Daayra Movie Cast, Director and Release Date
- Movie: Daayra
- Director: Meghna Gulzar
- Lead Cast: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran
- Supporting Cast: Kshitee Jog, Jitendra Joshi and others
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Runtime: Approximately 2 hours 23 minutes
- Language: Hindi
- Theatrical Release: 18 September 2026
- Production: Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios
Final Thoughts on Daayra Movie Review
Overall, Daayra presents itself as a serious investigative crime thriller built around questions rather than straightforward answers. Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran bring contrasting personalities to the central police conflict, while Meghna Gulzar uses the investigation to examine the boundaries between law, morality and justice.
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The reviews published so far range from strongly positive to more critical, particularly regarding the screenplay and resolution.
For viewers interested in crime thrillers, police investigations and socially relevant dramas, the film offers a premise designed to encourage discussion even after the credits roll. With its strong lead cast and serious subject, Daayra Movie review is likely to remain a topic of conversation as audiences begin watching the film in theatres from September 18.
