Regal Cinema, Mumbai (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
Daayra out now: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran’s thriller
Meghna Gulzar’s investigative thriller Daayra, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in their first film together, released in cinemas today to strong reviews.
Daayra is out in cinemas today, directed by Meghna Gulzar and starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran together for the first time.
The crime thriller centers on the investigation of a rape case and the alleged encounter killing of four accused men, questioning where justice truly lies.
Kareena Kapoor Khan’s performance as police officer Ajooni has been praised for its quiet, controlled authority rather than dramatic excess.
The 143-minute film has received largely favorable reviews, with ratings between 3.5 and 4 stars from major critics.
Critic Ramesh Bala rated Daayra a ‘gripping investigative thriller backed by a solid police procedural,’ lauding both leads’ performances.
Reviewers have rated the film between 3.5 and 4 stars, with critic Ramesh Bala calling it a ‘gripping investigative thriller backed by a solid police procedural.’
The film does not shy away from the harsh realities surrounding its central crime, examining the question of justice from multiple perspectives.
Both lead actors have been praised for holding the film together through restraint, with the story avoiding easy answers about who is right in a cop-versus-cop conflict.
Meghna Gulzar’s earlier film Raazi, also a tense thriller, was a major commercial and critical success and is often cited as a reference point for her directorial style.
The film’s climax has drawn mixed reactions from some critics even as the overall reception remained largely positive.
Daayra released in cinemas nationwide today alongside the regular Friday slate of new film releases in India.
Daayra is directed by Meghna Gulzar, known for previous films including Talvar, Raazi and Sam Bahadur.
The film marks the first time Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran have starred together on screen.
The story follows investigations into a rape case and the alleged encounter killing of four accused men, examining questions of justice and morality.
Kareena Kapoor Khan plays a police officer named Ajooni, with reviewers noting her performance leans into quiet authority rather than the aggressive cop archetype common in Hindi crime dramas.
Regal Cinema, Mumbai (representative image), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0