Daayra Movie Review: A Powerful Crime Drama That Demands Attention

Daayra movie review: Meghna Gulzar’s Daayra is not an easy film to watch, and that is precisely what makes it important. Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, this crime drama looks at justice, revenge, police power and the limitations of the legal system.

Released in theatres on September 18, 2026, Daayra brings together two police officers who believe in justice but follow very different paths to reach it.

It is a serious subject, handled with restraint rather than unnecessary spectacle. For viewers who enjoy realistic crime dramas and films that leave something to think about after the end credits, Daayra deserves attention.

Daayra Movie Review: A Subject That Needed to Be Told

The biggest strength of Daayra is its subject.

The film explores what happens when a horrific crime shakes society and people begin demanding immediate punishment. The public wants closure. The police want results. The legal system demands evidence and procedure.

This creates the central conflict between DCP Raman Kumar, played by Prithviraj Sukumaran, and DCP Ajooni Kohli, played by Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Raman represents a hard and uncompromising approach to justice. Ajooni believes that even when the system is slow and frustrating, the law cannot simply be ignored.

That conflict gives Daayra its emotional and intellectual foundation.

The film does not simply ask who is right. Instead, it asks a more uncomfortable question: what happens when justice and revenge begin to look similar?

Meghna Gulzar’s Making Is the Real Strength

Meghna Gulzar deserves appreciation for choosing such a difficult subject and refusing to turn it into a routine commercial thriller.

Her approach remains controlled throughout much of the film. She allows the investigation, characters and moral conflict to develop gradually.

The non-linear storytelling also adds to the mystery. The audience sees events from different points of view before understanding the larger picture.

This technique works particularly well during the investigation surrounding the encounter. Flashbacks, police operations and the tense atmosphere of the city create a dark and unsettling mood.

The film’s visual treatment also avoids unnecessary glamour. The result feels closer to a serious police investigation than a conventional Bollywood action thriller.

That decision suits the subject.

A Strong Screenplay With Difficult Questions

The screenplay, written by Meghna Gulzar, Yash Keswani and Sima Agarwal, gives Daayra its backbone.

The writing does not depend entirely on action. Instead, it builds the story around questions of morality and responsibility.

What should a police officer do when the legal system appears to fail?

Can an encounter ever be considered justice?

Does punishment provide real closure to a victim’s family?

And where does a police officer’s responsibility end?

These questions remain at the centre of the story.

The screenplay also understands that there is no simple answer. Raman has his reasons. Ajooni has hers. Both characters have seen the failures of the system from different sides.

That makes their eventual confrontation more meaningful.

Prithviraj Sukumaran Is Excellent

For me, Prithviraj Sukumaran is one of the biggest reasons to watch Daayra.

As DCP Raman Kumar, he delivers a controlled and intense performance. He does not play the character like a conventional action hero.

There is very little unnecessary shouting or dramatic posturing.

Instead, Prithviraj uses his eyes, expressions and body language to establish Raman’s confidence and conviction.

Raman genuinely believes that he is doing what needs to be done. That makes the character more interesting because the audience can understand his thinking even when questioning his methods.

Prithviraj also brings a certain stillness to the role. His character does not need to constantly explain himself. His presence often does the work.

That restrained intensity is one of the film’s strongest elements.

Recent reviews have also singled out Prithviraj’s depth and conviction as one of Daayra‘s major strengths.

Prithviraj Delivers One of His Most Intense Performances

Kareena Kapoor Brings Restraint

Kareena Kapoor Khan takes a very different approach as DCP Ajooni Kohli.

Ajooni is not designed as a loud or heroic police character. She works through patience, observation and procedure.

Kareena keeps the performance largely internal. Her expressions often communicate more than her dialogue.

There are moments when the character could have been developed further, but Kareena still brings maturity and credibility to the role.

Her scenes with Prithviraj are particularly important because their disagreement is not simply personal. It represents two different ideas about justice.

Supporting Performances Add Weight

The supporting cast also helps maintain the serious tone.

Kshitee Jog, particularly as the grieving mother, brings genuine emotional weight to the story. Her presence reminds the audience that behind every legal argument is a human tragedy.

The supporting police characters also help create the atmosphere of an investigation rather than making the story entirely dependent on its two leads.

What Does Not Work as Well?

Daayra is not a perfect film.

The pace can feel slow in places, especially for viewers expecting a conventional crime thriller. Some emotional portions are more direct than the otherwise restrained writing.

The final face-off between Raman and Ajooni could also have carried more dramatic force.

However, these limitations do not take away from the film’s larger purpose.

Daayra is more interested in leaving questions with the audience than providing easy answers.

Daayra Box Office and Audience Response

Since Daayra has released only on September 18, 2026, its theatrical box-office journey is still developing. Advance bookings had crossed ₹58 lakh gross before release, according to trade-tracking data, showing an initial level of audience interest.

The early critical conversation has particularly highlighted the performances and the film’s attempt to examine justice from opposing perspectives.

A final box-office verdict will need more theatrical data and a longer run.

An Interesting Behind-the-Scenes Detail

One interesting aspect of Daayra‘s making is the collaboration between Meghna Gulzar and Prithviraj.

The filmmaker deliberately wanted Prithviraj for Raman, bringing an actor from outside the traditional Hindi-film space into the story. That choice helps give the film a more neutral geographical identity.

The film also marks the first on-screen collaboration between Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, making their opposing characters one of the film’s major attractions.

Daayra Movie Review: Meghna Gulzar Tackles Justice, Crime and Revenge

For a Bollywood movie revisit, Daayra is the kind of film that can become more interesting after the first viewing.

It does not depend only on twists. Its real subject is the debate that continues after the story ends.

Justice cannot always be measured by public applause. At the same time, the film understands why people lose faith when justice appears painfully slow.

That uncomfortable space between these two realities is where Daayra finds its identity.

Highlights of Daayra Movie Review

• Meghna Gulzar chooses a challenging and socially relevant subject.
• The screenplay explores the conflict between justice and instant punishment.
• Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers one of the film’s strongest performances.
• Kareena Kapoor Khan brings maturity and restraint to her police role.
• The non-linear storytelling adds mystery to the investigation.
• The film avoids turning a complex moral issue into a simple good-versus-bad story.
• Kshitee Jog adds emotional depth as a grieving mother.
• The film raises difficult questions about encounters, law and public justice.
• The serious tone makes Daayra different from a conventional Bollywood crime thriller.
• Despite a few pacing issues, the film remains worth watching and discussing.

Daayra movie review: Meghna Gulzar returns with a gripping crime drama starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Set around a disturbing criminal case and the controversial idea of instant justice, the film explores the clash between police action, public emotion and the legal system. Prithviraj delivers a powerful and controlled performance as DCP Raman Kumar, while Kareena brings restraint and maturity to DCP Ajooni Kohli. The screenplay keeps the moral conflict at the centre instead of turning the story into a conventional action thriller. With its serious subject, strong performances and relevant questions about justice, Daayra is a must-watch.

Daayra Movie Review: Final Verdict

Daayra is a serious, thoughtful and well-made crime drama.

Meghna Gulzar deserves credit for choosing a difficult subject and approaching it without turning the film into a simple good-versus-bad story. The screenplay gives the characters opposing philosophies, while the direction maintains a restrained atmosphere.

Kareena Kapoor Khan delivers a mature performance, but Prithviraj Sukumaran stands out with a powerful, controlled and deeply convincing portrayal of Raman Kumar.

The film may not satisfy viewers looking for a fast-paced commercial thriller. But if you enjoy crime dramas that question the meaning of justice and make you think beyond the final scene, Daayra is a must-watch movie.

It is uncomfortable, relevant and worth discussing after you leave the theatre.