Daayra is a 2026 Hindi Movie of crime thriller genre directed by Meghna Gulazar with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in lead roles. The movie is about a disturbing crime and the investigation that ensues, pitting two very different police officers against each other in a case. It will be released in the theatres on 18 September 2026. Daayra has emerged as one of the top Hindi movies of September 2026 due to its investigative plot, serious themes, and strong cast. The movie is made by Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios and is expected to be 143 minutes long.
Daayra Movie Overview
| Category | Information |
| Movie Name | Daayra |
| Release Date | 18 September 2026 |
| Lead Cast | Kareena Kapoor Khan , Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kshitee Jog, Bhavesh Babbani, Biswapati Sarkar, Brij Bhushan Shukla |
| Writer | Sima Agarwal, Yash Keswani, Gulzar |
| Director | Meghna Gulzar |
| Producer | Junglee Pictures, Pen Studiois |
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Language | Hindi |
| Platform | Theatrical Release |
Daayra Cast and Crew
Now the likes of Vaisnava Brahms have joined Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead. Kareena Kapoor is playing the role of DCP Ajooni while Prithviraj is playing the role of DCP Raman Kumar. Other actors in the film include Jitendra Joshi, Kshitee Jog, Kanwaljeet Singh, Achint kaur, Seema Azmi, Pragati Mishra, Pragmat Shanghai and more.
Meghna Gulzar has directed the film and is also one of the writers. In the movie, Meghna Gulzar, Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani have been credited in the screenplay. Some of the producers have been honored, like Vineet Jain, Dhaval Jayantilal Gada, Amritya Pandey and Kushal Kantilal Gada. Saurabh Goswami has done the cinematography and Charu Shree Roy has edited the film. Amit Trivedi has written the music, Ketan Sodha has done background music and Gulzar has penned the lyrics. The movie was made under Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios.
Casting members and their character:
| Cast | Character |
| Kareena Kapoor Khan | DCP Ajooni Kohli |
| Prithviraj Sukumaran | DCP Raman Kumar |
| Kshitee Jog | Parvati, Ragini’s mother |
| Bhavesh Babbani | Kabir, Ragini’s brother |
| Biswapati Sarkar | Commissioner Prakash Anand |
| Brij Bhushan Shukla | Inspector Bala |
Daayra Story & Plot
The film starts with a missing woman, Ragini. Her family goes to the police but the case does not get the attention they think it warrants. Ragini’s burnt dead body is found, making it a big public and media controversy.DCP Raman Kumar has been tasked to find out who is responsible for this crime. His team is later to arrest four suspects, but before they could be brought to court, the suspects are murdered in the police’s description of an encounter. The incident is front-page news and some of them praise the number while others doubt that the encounter was real.
This provides a new investigation. DCP Ajooni Kohli is tasked to report back on what really happened and form a Special Investigation Team to investigate the incident. Her investigation puts her on a collision course with raman and larger issues of evidence, accountability, police power and what justice means. Instead of taking a narrow focus on the original crime, Daayra broadens the scope to focus on the processes and decisions that follow the crime. This gives the film a more general crime and morality theme.
Daayra Movie Budget
The estimated production budget of Daayra is around ₹55 crore. The crime thriller, which features Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, was produced on a relatively big budget for a crime film. The production cost of the film is reportedly between ₹55 crore.
This number should be considered an estimated/reported budget, however, as there is not yet an official budget statement from the filmmakers or production house. Thus, the film’s box-office standing will play a big role in gauging its theatrical comeback and wider commercial success.
Final Thoughts
Daayra is based on a serious and uncomfortable question. Both Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran are solid and Meghna Gulzar has not lost sight of the investigation and the moral dilemma posed that it covers. The film is most effective when it explores institutional failure and the conflicting notions of justice of the two protagonists. But there has been criticism about the flaws, but Daayra is an intriguing and thought provoking crime mystery with terrific acting and a good idea.
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