Mumbai, September 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar, who is preparing for the release of her upcoming crime thriller ‘Daayra’, has said that consuming non-fiction does not make her cynical but helps her remain grounded in reality.
Speaking to IANS during the film’s promotions in Mumbai’s Andheri West, Gulzar said non-fiction can sometimes leave her disappointed or even depressed, but it also gives her a realistic perspective on the world.
Asked whether reading non-fiction makes her cynical, the filmmaker said, “No, I think it keeps me real. Does it disappoint me and depress me from time to time? Of course it does. But it also keeps you real.”
Gulzar said she does not completely avoid fiction and sometimes turns to genres such as fantasy, science fiction and romance for escapism. However, when it comes to nourishing her mind, she prefers non-fiction.
“Yes, it’s not like I don’t consume fiction. I do. Sometimes I do want to escape into a fantasy or a sci-fi adventure or a romance. I do. But I think to feed the mind, I go towards non-fiction,” she said.
‘Daayra’, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Khan, is a crime thriller built around a socially grounded narrative. Kareena plays a complex and morally conflicted character in a story that explores justice, power and systemic grey areas.
The film brings together Kareena’s recent work in layered, content-driven roles with Gulzar’s restrained and issue-oriented filmmaking, previously seen in films such as ‘Talvar’, ‘Raazi’ and ‘Sam Bahadur’.
Gulzar had earlier explained that the characters played by Prithviraj and Kareena approach the central case from different perspectives but are not necessarily positioned at opposite ends.
“They are actually not at the opposite ends of the spectrum. They are part of the same spectrum. They are part of the same world of law enforcement and the police force. It is circumstances that put them on opposite sides of an incident,” she told IANS.
Produced by Vineet Jain under the banner of Junglee Pictures, ‘Daayra’ is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18, 2026.
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