Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has offered a revealing look at the two lead characters in her forthcoming crime thriller 'Daayra', starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, ahead of the film's theatrical release on 18 September 2026. Speaking during promotions in Andheri West, Mumbai, Gulzar described both characters as occupying the same moral universe — separated not by belief, but by circumstance.

Two Sides of the Same Law

Gulzar was clear that the film does not set up a straightforward hero-versus-villain dynamic. 'They are actually not at the opposite ends of the spectrum. They are part of the same spectrum. They are part of the same world of law enforcement and the police force. It is circumstances that put them on opposite sides of an incident,' she said.

Both characters operate within the machinery of law enforcement, but the shifting nature of legal and moral boundaries is what drives the tension in 'Daayra'. 'Sometimes the line of law can entrap you. Sometimes it can show you the way. And that's what they are navigating through 'Daayra',' Gulzar explained.

Kareena's Ajooni Kohli vs Prithviraj's Raman

Kareena Kapoor Khan plays Ajooni Kohli, a character Gulzar describes as uncompromisingly principled. 'Kareena's character, Ajooni Kohli, will uphold her righteousness to a fault,' the director said. By contrast, Prithviraj Sukumaran's character, Raman, is equally righteous but tempered by a fierce streak. 'Raman is also righteous, but he's fierce as well. So sometimes his ferocity overtakes his righteousness,' Gulzar noted.

The contrast sets up a nuanced moral tug-of-war — not between good and evil, but between two versions of conviction operating under pressure.

What 'Daayra' Promises

'Daayra' is described as a sharp, socially grounded crime thriller that probes justice, power, and systemic grey zones. The film marks a significant creative convergence: Kareena Kapoor Khan's recent pivot toward layered, content-driven roles meets Meghna Gulzar's restrained, issue-oriented filmmaking — a style established through 'Talvar', 'Raazi', and 'Sam Bahadur'.

Produced by Vineet Jain under the banner of Junglee Pictures, the film is scheduled for a theatrical release on 18 September 2026.

Meghna Gulzar's Track Record

Gulzar has consistently chosen subjects that sit at the intersection of personal morality and institutional failure. 'Talvar' dissected an investigative miscarriage; 'Raazi' examined the cost of patriotism on an individual; 'Sam Bahadur' humanised military heroism. 'Daayra' appears to extend that tradition into the terrain of policing and legal accountability — territory that resonates deeply in the current national conversation around justice and systemic reform.