Mumbai, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Stars: 4.5/5
Director: Meghna Gulzar
Cast: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran
Some films simply tell a story, while others leave audiences questioning the difference between justice and injustice. Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Daayra’ belongs firmly to the latter category.
Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, the crime drama brings together two police officers who believe in justice but differ sharply on how it should be delivered. Set against a disturbing rape case and its aftermath, the film examines law, accountability, institutional power and the uneasy space between what is legally right and what may emotionally feel right.
The first collaboration between Gulzar, Kareena and Prithviraj is among the film’s major attractions, and the combination works effectively.
‘Daayra’ follows DCP Ajooni Kohli, played by Kareena, and DCP Raman Kumar, portrayed by Prithviraj. A serious rape case brings them into the same investigation, but their contrasting approaches to justice place them on opposite sides of a larger institutional conflict.
Raman believes that those responsible for such a heinous crime deserve the harshest punishment, even if achieving it means moving beyond conventional legal boundaries. Ajooni, meanwhile, is tasked with investigating an encounter and examining the circumstances surrounding it.
What begins as an investigation soon becomes far more complicated. As Ajooni goes deeper into the case, questions emerge about police authority, evidence, public pressure and the social tendency to judge women even when they are victims.
The film’s biggest strength is its refusal to make the conflict entirely black and white. Both central characters have their own understanding of justice, and the collision between those beliefs provides much of the film’s tension.
Kareena Kapoor Khan delivers one of the strongest performances of her career as DCP Ajooni Kohli. She avoids unnecessary aggression or dramatic outbursts, instead relying on body language, expressions and quiet authority.
Her Ajooni comes across as a police officer who has spent years understanding the system and knows when to speak and when restraint is more effective. Importantly, the character is not reduced to the stereotypical “tough female cop”. She has a personality and individuality beyond the uniform, making her more convincing.
Kareena also handles the emotional moments with considerable restraint, allowing the seriousness of the character and situation to emerge naturally.
Prithviraj Sukumaran is equally effective as DCP Raman Kumar. He brings anger, conviction and intensity to the role without making Raman excessively aggressive. His performance remains measured, with an underlying force evident in the way he speaks, reacts and handles confrontation.
The professional friction between Kareena and Prithviraj becomes one of the film’s most engaging aspects. Their conflict is not merely personal; it stems from fundamentally different interpretations of law, punishment and justice.
The supporting cast, including Kanwaljit Singh, Trupti Khamkar and Kshitee Jog, adds further weight to the proceedings and fits naturally into the film’s tense world.
Gulzar has consistently explored stories where individual choices intersect with larger social issues, and ‘Daayra’ continues in that vein. The screenplay by Meghna Gulzar, Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani avoids rushing towards convenient answers, allowing the investigation to gradually expose the complexities surrounding the case.
The treatment of sexual violence is another strong aspect of the film. It is not used merely as a source of shock; instead, the narrative examines the aftermath, investigation and institutional response while also exploring the influence of public perception and social judgment.
At the heart of the film is an uncomfortable question: when justice takes too long, when does the wait itself begin to feel like injustice?
That question gives ‘Daayra’ much of its contemporary relevance.
The film does, however, have some shortcomings. The second half becomes technical and dialogue-heavy during the investigation into the encounter, affecting the pace at certain points. Some of the legal and procedural portions could also have been integrated more organically.
These issues, however, do little to diminish the film’s overall impact.
‘Daayra’ is a gripping crime drama that chooses questions over easy answers. Gulzar keeps the narrative serious and grounded, while Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran provide the emotional and moral weight required to sustain the central conflict.
The film remains thought-provoking without sacrificing its thriller elements. Most importantly, it does not dictate what the audience should think. Instead, it presents a complicated situation, offers conflicting perspectives and allows the questions to linger.
With strong performances, assured direction and a subject that remains deeply relevant, ‘Daayra’ makes for a compelling theatrical watch.
‘Daayra’ is produced by Junglee Pictures and Dr Jayantilal Gada’s Pen Studios and distributed by Pen Marudhar. The film releases in theatres on September 18.
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