Meghna Gulzar’s Daayra was released in theatres on September 18, 2026. It stars Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran and Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor in the lead role. The investigative thriller was received
well by critics. The film has been steady at the box office.
Daayra Box Office Collection
According to the latest Sacnilk update, Daayra earned ₹1.75 crore on Sunday till 10 PM, matching its Saturday collection of ₹1.75 crore. The film had opened with ₹1 crore on Friday, taking its India gross collection to ₹5.40 crore over the first three days. Its India net collection currently stands at ₹4.50 crore.
Daayra Review
News18 Showsha gave the film 3 out 5 stars and wrote in its review, “Daayra has its moments where it shines bright. In some others, it makes you uncomfortable. For instance, there’s a scene that showcases a graphic sexual violence – men taking turns to assault the body and the spirit of a 24-year-old girl. It’s gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, infuriating and deeply disturbing. Daayra also includes references to the juvenile perpetrator in the Nirbhaya case. Based on multiple real incidents, the allusion appears to be designed to ground the story in a horrifyingly familiar reality, making its subject matter feel even more immediate and unsettling. Needless to say, this film is an urgent watch. This is a story that needs to be told, not just once, but again and again, until we stop looking away.”
About Daayra
Daayra is a crime thriller directed and co-written by Meghna Gulzar. Produced by Vineet Jain and Dhaval Jain under Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios, the film is inspired by a true event and stars Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles. The film also features Kanwaljit Singh, Achint Kaur, Anuja Sathe, Seema Azmi, Biswapati Sarkar, Jitendra Joshi, Upendra Chauhan and others in supporting roles.
Gulzar has written the lyrics for the film, while Amit Trivedi has composed the music and Ketan Sodha has worked on the background score. Saurabh Goswami is the cinematographer, with Taran Bajaj serving as the casting director. Meghna Gulzar has also edited the film alongside Charu Shree Roy.
