The official trailer of Daayra, the upcoming investigative crime thriller directed by Meghna Gulzar, has been released. The film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles and is scheduled to release in theatres on September 18, 2026.
The trailer introduces Kareena Kapoor Khan as DCP Ajooni Kohli and Prithviraj Sukumaran as DCP Raman Kumar. Both characters are police officers working within the same system, but a controversial case places them on opposing sides. Their different approaches to the investigation and justice form the central conflict of the film.
Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Daayra is being presented as a crime thriller inspired by true events. The story is expected to explore the complicated relationship between crime, law, justice and punishment. The trailer gives viewers glimpses of an investigation in which facts, institutional responsibilities and personal convictions appear to collide.
Kareena and Prithviraj are sharing the screen for the first time in Daayra. Their pairing has become one of the major talking points surrounding the film, particularly because both actors are presented in serious police roles. The contrast between their characters is central to the narrative shown in the trailer.
Kareena Kapoor Khan takes on the role of DCP Ajooni Kohli, a senior police officer involved in a sensitive investigation. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar, whose perspective on the case differs from that of Kohli. The two characters appear to represent competing approaches to the question of justice.
The trailer suggests that the case at the centre of Daayra is not presented as a straightforward investigation. Instead, the film appears to examine how institutions, individuals and public opinion respond when a controversial incident creates sharply divided views.
Meghna Gulzar is known for films that combine human drama with real world subjects. Daayra marks her third collaboration with Junglee Pictures after Talvar and Raazi. The new film is backed by Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios. The screenplay has been written by Yash Keswani, Sima Agarwal and Meghna Gulzar.
The filmmakers have described Daayra as a story that examines the complexities of law and justice. The film aims to raise questions about how people interpret truth, accountability and punishment when different perspectives compete with one another.
The trailer focuses heavily on the investigative atmosphere of the film. Police procedures, tense conversations and confrontations between characters establish a serious tone. While the makers have revealed the primary characters and broad premise, several details of the central case remain undisclosed.
The film is also notable for bringing together actors from different areas of Indian cinema. Kareena is one of the leading performers in Hindi cinema, while Prithviraj has established himself as an actor, filmmaker and producer in Malayalam cinema and has also worked extensively across Indian-language productions.
Daayra is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on September 18, 2026. The release date was officially announced by the filmmakers in June, with promotional material presenting the project as a gritty investigation into crime and justice.
The trailer release is expected to increase interest in the upcoming film, particularly because it offers the first substantial look at the performances of Kareena and Prithviraj. Their characters appear to have strong disagreements over the investigation, suggesting that the emotional and professional conflict between the two officers will be an important part of the story.
The film's title, Daayra, suggests the idea of boundaries or limits, which fits the narrative's focus on legal, moral and institutional boundaries. The trailer appears to build on this idea by showing characters confronting difficult choices in a situation where the distinction between legal procedure and individual interpretation becomes increasingly complicated.
The makers have not revealed the full details of the real life events that inspired the story. Instead, the promotional material focuses on the fictionalised characters and the larger questions surrounding justice and accountability. This approach allows the film to maintain suspense ahead of its theatrical release.
According to current film listings, Daayra is a Hindi language crime drama and thriller with a runtime of approximately two hours and 23 minutes. The film is listed for theatrical release on September 18, 2026.
With the trailer now available, attention is expected to remain on Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran's performances, as well as Meghna Gulzar's direction. The combination of an investigative storyline, prominent lead actors and a subject centred on crime and justice has positioned Daayra as one of the notable Hindi releases scheduled for September.
The film will ultimately explore how the central case affects the people investigating it and the wider society around them. As the release date approaches, further promotional material may provide additional details about the characters and the events that drive the story.
For now, the official trailer establishes the core premise clearly. DCP Ajooni Kohli and DCP Raman Kumar are two officers operating within the same system but taking different positions on a controversial case. Their conflicting perspectives form the heart of Daayra and set the stage for Meghna Gulzar's latest investigative thriller.