Mumbai, September 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has revealed that the idea for her upcoming crime thriller Daayra, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan, first came to her in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.
Speaking to IANS during the film’s promotions in Mumbai’s Andheri West, Gulzar recalled receiving the initial idea while she was staying at her village home during the lockdown.
“Actually, the idea was sent my way in 2020. I still remember where I was. I was at my village home and there was a lockdown because of Covid-19. And it was a story written over a few pages. The idea had come from Junglee Pictures,” she said.
Although the project was pitched to her in 2020, Gulzar was already deeply involved in developing Sam Bahadur, the Vicky Kaushal-starrer based on the life of India’s celebrated military leader Sam Manekshaw.
Despite knowing that Sam Bahadur would take precedence, the filmmaker said the subject of Daayra immediately caught her attention because of the relevance of the issues it explores.
“And yet, it grabbed me because the issues that it talks about are so prevalent and we, even Junglee Pictures and I, we both knew that I will be making Sam Bahadur next. And we were okay to make it after four years because we knew that it’s not going to get outdated even after four years,” Gulzar said.
Daayra is positioned as a socially grounded crime thriller exploring justice, power and systemic grey areas. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays a morally conflicted character, while Prithviraj Sukumaran also takes on a pivotal role as the story examines the case from contrasting perspectives.
The film marks another issue-driven collaboration for Gulzar, whose earlier works include Talvar, Raazi and Sam Bahadur. It also brings together her restrained storytelling approach with Kareena’s recent choice of layered, content-driven roles.
Produced by Vineet Jain under the banner of Junglee Pictures, Daayra is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18, 2026.
FOLLOW NOW
