Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran go head-to-head as rival investigators in the trailer for Daayra, unveiled on Monday, 31 August 2026, by producers Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios. Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Meghna Gulzar, the film is inspired by true events and is set to release in theatres on 18 September 2026.

What the Trailer Reveals

The trailer frames a tense courtroom and investigative clash, placing Kareena's character DCP Ajooni Kohli and Prithviraj's DCP Raman Kumar on opposing sides of a high-stakes case. The footage also introduces an ensemble cast — Jitendra Joshi, Kshitee Jog, Kanwaljeet Singh, Sandeep Kulkarni, and Trupti Khamkar — each contributing to what the makers describe as a story built on moral ambiguity, challenging choices, and consequence.

What the Lead Cast Said

Kareena spoke about the demands of playing DCP Ajooni Kohli: '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.'

She added: '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.'

Prithviraj explained his draw to the role: '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 on the Film's Moral Core

Director Meghna Gulzar described the film's thematic ambition: '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.'

Gulzar credited the cast for bringing that complexity to life: '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.'

Producers on the Film's Relevance

Amrita Pandey, CEO of Junglee Pictures, said the project reflects the banner's commitment to socially grounded storytelling: '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.'

Dr. Jayantilal Gada, CMD of Pen Studios, added: 'Cinema can entertain, but it can also ask the right questions. Daayra belongs to the latter.' He described Gulzar as a filmmaker who tells stories 'with depth, sensitivity and restraint.'

Inspired by true events, Daayra follows the aftermath of a crime that triggers widespread public outrage and sets two separate investigations in motion. The film arrives in cinemas on 18 September 2026.