The official trailer for Daayra is finally out, and it brings a intense clash between two police officers with very different ideas about justice. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film features Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as senior cops who find themselves on opposing sides of a case involving juvenile crime. The trailer, released on August 31, 2026, gives audiences a look at a story that questions the very meaning of law, justice, and accountability.
The film, which is inspired by true events, explores what happens when the legal system fails to provide clear answers. With a runtime of around 2 minutes and 19 seconds, the trailer sets up a tense atmosphere where every decision has consequences.
Two Cops, Two Different Approaches to Justice
Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, a police officer who believes in working strictly within the boundaries of the law. Her character is described as “fiercely righteous” by the director. On the other side, Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar, a cop who is not afraid to step outside the legal framework to get results.
The trailer shows the two officers in a tense confrontation. When Ajooni tells Raman, “I work within the boundaries of law,” he replies, “And I don’t”. This single exchange captures the central conflict of the film. Both characters belong to the same police system, but their methods and beliefs could not be more different.
The film’s synopsis explains: “Daayra follows DCP Raman Kumar and DCP Ajooni Kohli as a case places them on opposing sides of the same system. As their paths collide, the film examines truth, accountability and the moral boundaries of justice”.
The Case That Divides Them
The trailer opens with the aftermath of a brutal crime involving the disappearance of a young girl. The case takes a dark turn when questions arise about a police encounter, where officers shot at suspects. The mother of the missing girl pleads with the authorities to find her daughter.
As the investigation moves forward, the case becomes more complicated. One of the accused is reportedly a juvenile, raising difficult questions about whether juvenile protection laws should apply in cases involving serious crimes. The film asks a hard question: can justice be separated from the legal protections given to an accused person, even when the crime is extremely serious?
The disagreement between Ajooni and Raman goes beyond just this one case. They question each other’s understanding of procedure, accountability, and the limits of their duties as police officers.
Inspired by True Events, But Not One Single Case
When Daayra was first announced, many people assumed it was based on the 2019 Hyderabad rape-murder case. However, Meghna Gulzar has clarified that the film is not a direct retelling of one specific incident.
“Daayra is a story that is inspired by not one, but several true events that have occurred across our country. Daayra is a story that takes place, not in a particular city or state of India; but does happen almost everywhere and anywhere in our country.”
Gulzar, who previously directed Talvar (based on the Aarushi Talwar case) and Raazi, explained that Daayra allowed her to push boundaries in ways her earlier films did not. She said, “I didn’t have the restrictions on this film as I did on Talvar because in Daayra, I am not portraying a true city, a true state, a true police force…. They are all fictional in the film”.
The film weaves a narrative based on a combination of events that have happened across the country, creating a crime procedural that feels both realistic and fictional.
What the Cast and Director Say
Kareena Kapoor Khan described her experience working with Meghna Gulzar as something that pushed her as an actor.
“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.”
She also praised her co-star Prithviraj Sukumaran, calling him an “incredibly intelligent actor” and saying there was “an ease to working together”.
Prithviraj Sukumaran shared what drew him to his character.
“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.”
He also spoke about working with Gulzar: “I had so much fun working with Meghna – I don’t think I’ve argued so much with any filmmaker. She is an incredible filmmaker”.
Director Meghna Gulzar described the film as one that does not offer easy answers.
“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.”
She added: “Kareena’s Ajooni is fiercely righteous. Prithviraj as Raman is righteously fierce. They are both swirling in a sea of grey. As in life, so in Daayra, they are neither black nor white”.
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The Team Behind Daayra
Daayra marks the first on-screen collaboration between Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. It also brings Meghna Gulzar back together with Junglee Pictures, the production house behind her earlier films Talvar and Raazi.
The film has been written by Meghna Gulzar, Yash Keswani, and Sima Agarwal. The cinematography is handled by Saurabh Goswami, and the editing is done by Charu Shree Roy along with Gulzar herself. The music is composed by Amit Trivedi, with lyrics by the legendary Gulzar.
The supporting cast includes Jitendra Joshi, Kshitee Jog, Kanwaljeet Singh, Sandeep Kulkarni, Trupti Khamkar, and Biswapati Sarkar.
Daayra is produced by Vineet Jain, Dhaval Gada, and Amrita Pandey under the banners of Junglee Pictures and Dr. Jayantilal Gada’s Pen Studios. The film will be distributed by Pen Marudhar.
Release Date and Box Office Clash
Daayra is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 18, 2026. The film will be available in Hindi and Malayalam languages. It will face competition at the box office from Kunal Kemmu’s comedy film Vibe, starring Preity Zinta, which also releases on the same day. Another major release on September 18 is Haiwaan, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
The OTT release details for Daayra have not been confirmed yet.
As the trailer continues to generate buzz online, audiences are eager to see how this story of law versus justice plays out on the big screen. With a strong cast, a director known for hard-hitting films, and a story rooted in real events, Daayra is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
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