Entertainment

Daayra trailer pits Kareena, Prithviraj as opposing DCPs

Meghna Gulzar's crime thriller stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as opposing DCPs and releases on 18 September.

Ananya Iyer

Commentary & Analysis ·

3 min read
Illustrative image for the story: Daayra trailer pits Kareena, Prithviraj as opposing DCPs
Illustrative image for the story: Daayra trailer pits Kareena, Prithviraj as opposing DCPs · Picture: The NE Times

The Daayra trailer sets up Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as DCPs on opposing sides of a sensitive case in Meghna Gulzar’s new crime thriller. According to Indian Express, The Hindu, Times Now and Bollywood Hungama, the film deals with a police encounter and questions around juvenile crime, and is inspired by true events.

Kareena plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, while Prithviraj appears as DCP Raman Kumar. The trailer frames the central case through their opposing positions, making the first-time pairing of the two actors one of the main talking points ahead of release.

What does the Daayra trailer reveal?

The trailer presents a sensitive case shaped by a police encounter and issues connected with juvenile crime. Reports in Indian Express, The Hindu, Times Now and Bollywood Hungama describe the film as a crime thriller inspired by true events, with the two DCPs positioned on opposite sides of the central matter.

The Daayra movie trailer is drawing attention partly because this is the first screen pairing of Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Their characters, DCP Ajooni Kohli and DCP Raman Kumar, approach the sensitive case from opposing sides as the trailer introduces the film’s central conflict.

The cited reports do not specify the exact true events that inspired the story. That means the film can only be described more broadly as being inspired by true events, without linking it to any named incident or case beyond what the trailer and reports have disclosed.

Early response to the trailer has been strong, according to reports in Indian Express, The Hindu, Times Now and Bollywood Hungama. Interest around the film combines its crime-thriller premise, Gulzar’s involvement and the novelty of seeing Kareena and Prithviraj together for the first time.

Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj lead Meghna Gulzar’s thriller

For viewers searching Kareena Kapoor Daayra, the key role detail is that she plays DCP Ajooni Kohli. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar, with the trailer placing the two officers on opposite sides of the sensitive case.

The Prithviraj Sukumaran Daayra role also marks his first pairing with Kareena. The cited reports do not provide further character histories, plot outcomes or details of how the two DCPs are connected outside the case, so those elements remain unrevealed in the information available.

Meghna Gulzar’s involvement is another major part of the film’s pre-release profile. The cited reports highlight her pedigree through Talvar and Raazi, two earlier films associated with the director. Daayra is presented here as her new crime thriller rather than as a continuation or extension of those films.

At the trailer launch, Kareena also spoke about encouraging her sons to express emotions, saying that “boys can cry too”. The remark was made during the launch event and has become part of the coverage around the trailer, according to the cited reports.

Daayra release date and languages

The Daayra release date is 18 September 2026. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in Hindi and Malayalam, according to Indian Express, The Hindu, Times Now and Bollywood Hungama.

The Hindi and Malayalam release adds another point of interest to the first-time pairing of Kareena and Prithviraj. With the trailer now out, attention is centred on the clash between Ajooni Kohli and Raman Kumar, the police encounter at the heart of the case and the larger juvenile-crime questions raised by the premise.

The trailer’s strong response gives the film momentum ahead of 18 September. At the same time, much of the story remains deliberately broad in the available material: the cited reports do not identify the true events behind the inspiration, specify the juvenile-crime issue in detail or reveal where the opposing positions of the two DCPs ultimately lead.

For audiences following Meghna Gulzar Daayra, the confirmed elements are therefore clear. It is a crime thriller inspired by true events, led by Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as DCPs on opposing sides, and it will release theatrically in two languages.

Key facts

  • Director: Daayra is directed by Meghna Gulzar.
  • Lead roles: Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli and Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar.
  • Premise: The two DCPs are on opposing sides of a sensitive case involving a police encounter and juvenile-crime questions.
  • Inspiration: The crime thriller is inspired by true events.
  • Release date: Daayra is scheduled to release theatrically on 18 September 2026.
  • Languages: The film will release in Hindi and Malayalam.

With its trailer, Daayra has put its central conflict in place without revealing the full shape of the case. The immediate draw is the first-time pairing of Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, directed by Meghna Gulzar, with the film due in cinemas on 18 September in Hindi and Malayalam.

Frequently asked questions

When is Daayra releasing?

Daayra is scheduled for a theatrical release on 18 September 2026. According to Indian Express, The Hindu, Times Now and Bollywood Hungama, it will release in Hindi and Malayalam.

Who do Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran play in Daayra?

Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar. The trailer places the two DCPs on opposing sides of a sensitive case.

Is Daayra based on a true story?

Reports describe Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller as inspired by true events. The cited reports do not identify the specific real events that inspired the film.

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