The first trailer for Daayra has arrived, and Meghna Gulzar is once again taking audiences into a world where the line between right and wrong is anything but clear. The crime thriller brings Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran together for the first time, with both actors playing senior police officers caught on opposing sides of the same case.
Kareena plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, while Prithviraj takes on the role of DCP Raman Kumar. The trailer introduces a case that shakes the nation and sets two investigations in motion, placing the characters inside the same system but pushing them toward very different approaches to duty and justice.
The makers describe Daayra as a story inspired by true events, but the trailer keeps the specifics of the central crime carefully guarded. Instead, it builds curiosity around the two protagonists and the decisions they must make as the investigation develops.
Daayra is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18.
Kareena and Prithviraj Take Opposite Sides
The most intriguing part of the trailer is the relationship between its two central investigators. Raman Kumar and Ajooni Kohli are both police officers, but the case forces them to approach the same situation from opposing sides of the system.
That setup gives Meghna Gulzar room to explore a crime story without reducing its characters to straightforward heroes and villains. The film appears more interested in the choices people make when evidence, duty, morality and justice begin pulling them in different directions.
The official trailer description says, “Inspired by true events, Daayra is a gripping crime thriller that follows DCP Raman Kumar and DCP Ajooni Kohli as a case places them on opposing sides of the same system.”
Kareena has described her character as a role that pushed her into unfamiliar territory. “What I loved about working with Meghna is that she makes you question everything you think you know about a character. There’s so much thought behind every detail, but she never takes away your instinct as an actor. Playing DCP Ajooni Kohli stayed with me… because she pushed me into a space I hadn’t really explored before, and at this stage in my career, that’s always exciting. And then to have Prithviraj opposite me was such a pleasure. He’s an incredibly intelligent actor… very present, very instinctive… and there was an ease to working together that I really enjoyed. This was one of those films where the people you’re surrounded by make the experience that much richer,” the actress mentioned.
Prithviraj has similarly pointed to the complexity behind his character’s controlled appearance. “What drew me to DCP Raman Kumar was the complexity beneath his composed exterior and the questions he finds himself grappling with during the investigation. What I admire is how the film maintains that objectivity right till the very end, allowing the audience to form their own perspective. Meghna Gulzar is a filmmaker whose craft I have closely followed and Daayra gave me the opportunity to work with her. It was a rewarding experience and working with Kareena made the journey even more special. I hope the audience connects with the world we have created, a story that is gripping and deeply human.”
Meghna Gulzar Explores the Grey
The trailer makes it clear that Daayra is not being positioned as a conventional police thriller where the audience is simply asked to identify the good side and the bad side. Its central idea revolves around moral ambiguity and the uncomfortable space between legal duty and personal judgment.
Meghna Gulzar has described that approach as one of the film’s defining qualities. “Daayra doesn’t sit comfortably in black and white. It explores the grey and dismantles it. As a filmmaker, that grey space is always challenging, and yet compelling – where characters make choices, live with them, and the audience is left to engage with what unfolds. The main protagonists of Daayra are brought to life with towering performances by Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. I’m grateful that I got this dynamic combination of actors, along with an exceptional ensemble cast, to explore the delicate lines of law and justice that traverse the story of Daayra. I am very excited to share this world of grey with the audience and welcome them into it.”
That philosophy gives the trailer its central tension. Instead of revealing the mystery too early, the footage focuses on the conflicting perspectives surrounding the case and the pressure placed on the two officers.
The film reunites Meghna with Junglee Pictures after their earlier collaborations Talvar and Raazi. Both films established her interest in stories rooted in real-world events and complicated human decisions, making Daayra a natural continuation of that creative territory.
Daayra Brings a New Collaboration
For Kareena and Prithviraj, the film marks their first collaboration with Meghna Gulzar and their first screen pairing with each other. The combination gives Daayra a strong central cast, with both performers taking characters positioned at the heart of the investigation.
The screenplay has been written by Meghna Gulzar, Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani. Saurabh Goswami serves as cinematographer, while Charu Shree Roy handles the editing, with Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios backing the production.
Junglee Pictures CEO Amrita Pandey said the film fits the company’s interest in stories inspired by real experiences while emphasizing the moral questions at its center. “At Junglee Pictures, we have always gravitated towards stories that come from the world around us, particularly those inspired by true events or real experiences. Daayra has been a story we have developed closely with our writers and Meghna, and it is a film that feels deeply relevant to the times we live in, while approaching its subject with the sensitivity it deserves. It is also a powerful crime thriller, driven by conflict, moral dilemmas, difficult choices and two very strong points of view. To have powerhouse performers like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran bring these characters to life makes it even more exciting. Daayra also marks our first co production with PEN Studios, and we are delighted to be on this journey with them. For our team, it is wonderful to be working with Meghna for the third time after Talvar and Raazi. We have loved making this film and hope audiences connect with it as deeply as we have.”
Pen Studios CMD Dr. Jayantilal Gada similarly emphasized the film’s intention to raise questions rather than simply provide entertainment. “Cinema can entertain, but it can also ask the right questions. Daayra belongs to the latter, and that is what makes this story particularly special to us. Meghna Gulzar is a filmmaker who has consistently created cinema that makes you think, and her ability to tell a story with depth, sensitivity and restraint is truly remarkable. Bringing together two celebrated actors like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran adds another compelling dimension to the film, with both actors bringing immense conviction and intensity to their roles. It has also been wonderful to collaborate with a content-first studio like Junglee Pictures, whose vision and commitment to meaningful storytelling align closely with ours. We hope Daayra not only grips audiences but also stays with them, leaving them with questions and conversations long after they leave the theatre.”
With the trailer now out, the central mystery is finally taking shape without giving away the film’s biggest answers. The combination of a nationally significant crime, two investigators with conflicting perspectives and Meghna Gulzar’s interest in moral ambiguity gives Daayra a clear identity ahead of its theatrical release.
The real test will come on September 18, when audiences discover what puts Raman Kumar and Ajooni Kohli on opposite sides of the same system and whether the film can make its grey areas as compelling as its trailer promises.
Daayra Trailer: 6 Questions Answered
When is Daayra releasing?
Daayra is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18. The film is directed by Meghna Gulzar and stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Who does Kareena Kapoor Khan play in Daayra?
Kareena plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, one of the film’s two central police officers. Her character becomes involved in a major case that puts her on an opposing side of the same system as Prithviraj’s character.
Who does Prithviraj Sukumaran play?
Prithviraj plays DCP Raman Kumar. He has described the character as someone whose composed exterior hides complex questions about the investigation and the decisions he must make.
What is Daayra about?
The film follows DCP Raman Kumar and DCP Ajooni Kohli after a crime shakes the nation. Their investigations place them on opposing sides of the same system while challenging their ideas about law, justice and morality.
Is Daayra based on a true story?
The official trailer describes Daayra as inspired by true events. The makers have not revealed all the details of the real-world events that influenced the story.
Who directed and wrote Daayra?
Meghna Gulzar directed the film and co-wrote it with Sima Agarwal and Yash Keswani. Saurabh Goswami is the cinematographer and Charu Shree Roy is the editor.
