Daayra Review: Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Bring Intensity to a Justice Drama

The film Daayra is a Hindi crime thriller film directed by Meghna Gulzar and has Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran playing the main characters. It is a film in which two police officers have entirely different views on justice in the light of a rape and murder case. In the movie, Kareena Kapoor Khan has played the role of DCP Ajooni Kohli and Prithviraj Sukumaran has acted as DCP Raman Kumar.

Daayra Movie Details

The film has a runtime of around two hours and was released theatrically on 18 September 2026. It is presented as an investigative crime drama dealing with the complicated relationship between crime, punishment and justice.

Daayra Story Overview

DCP Raman Kumar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) gets all the attention when he leads his team to kill four people who were responsible for beating and murdering a 24-year-old woman, Ragini Poojari. The people praise the action by the police, but questions soon arise as to whether this encounter was real or fabricated. DCP Ajooni Kohli (Kareena Kapoor Khan), who is part of Internal Vigilance, has been assigned the task of investigating the encounter.

She goes to Suryapur and starts digging up whatever happened prior to the killing of the four accused people. The investigation reveals that Ragini's family had faced difficulties trying to get help after she disappeared. Her complaints had not been registered on time, there had been delays in forwarding the complaint from one police station to another, and the evidence lacked something. The rest of the movie talks about Ajooni's investigation and the clash with Raman's justice.

Daayra Review: Strong Questions, But Limited Impact

The plot works better when Ajooni digs into the happenings of the disappearance of Ragini. It is uncomfortable and efficient because it helps the viewers understand that even before the crime gets to the trial, there is the chance for the system to fail in its functioning. Moreover, Daayra presents interesting characters of Ajooni and Raman whose opinions are very different.

While the former is convinced that there must be proper procedure and due process, the latter is sure that there might be some failures in the system. Daayra does not say whose opinion is correct and gives the central conflict another depth. Nonetheless, it is unfortunate that the film does not develop the background of Ajooni properly. She is a daughter of a retired judge who was killed on the premises of the courthouse and it can add another layer of emotions to her character.

Unfortunately, the film skips over it rather quickly. Another flaw is the confrontation between Ajooni and Raman because it is quiet compared to all previous events. They spend the whole movie developing their different views on the system but the final clash does not work out.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt Stuns in Pearls, Crystals and Glitter for Allure

Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran Lead a Strong Cast

The portrayal of Ajooni by Kareena Kapoor Khan is rather reserved. She does not act like an aggressive policeman but remains in control during her scenes. She gives some of her best performances in her scenes with the family of Ragini. Raman Kumar played by Prithviraj Sukumaran is very convincing. Raman seems to believe in his way of doing things and he feels that the existing system has failed him.

His character is well portrayed so that the viewers can get the thoughts of Raman without making him a caricature. The performances by Jitendra Joshi, Biswapati Sarkar and Kanwaljit Singh are commendable while the performance of Kshitee Jog as Ragini's mother is impressive.

Technical Aspects and Visual Appeal

Meghna Gulzar ensures that the film remains grounded and serious. The investigative sequences of the movie perform better compared to the sequences that attempt to make it a conventional cat-and-mouse thriller. The movie is focused on raising issues relating to justice rather than action or thrill.

The script allows the characters of Ajooni and Raman their own screen time, but certain emotional subplots remain under-explored. The main problem is that while the movie builds up to a grand ideological showdown, the sequence fails to live up to expectations.

What Are the Weak Points?

• Underdeveloped character layers
• Subdued final confrontation
• Limited emotional depth
• Uneven thriller elements

Is Daayra Worth Watching?

Watch it if you:

• Enjoy serious crime dramas.
• Like Meghna Gulzar's films.
• Follow Kareena Kapoor's performances.
• Prefer stories about justice.

Skip it if you:

• Want an action-heavy thriller.
• Expect constant suspense.
• Prefer straightforward crime stories.
• Dislike serious social themes.

Final Verdict

Daayra has a very clear subject matter with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as two cops taking opposing sides on a challenging matter relating to justice. The investigation of the case of Ragini comes out clearly as the best part of the movie, particularly because it highlights the challenges that arise due to institutional failures for the affected parties.

Nevertheless, the movie fails to make use of its central conflict enough by neglecting Ajooni's life story and making the climatic confrontation less emotionally charged.

Rating: 3/5

Overall, Daayra is a one-time watch for viewers who enjoy serious crime dramas and stories about justice, law and morality. It has strong performances and important questions, but it leaves some of its biggest possibilities unexplored.

Also Read: Vvaan Trailer: Sidharth and Tamannaah Enter the Dark Forest