Daayra (2026) [Movie Review] — Meghna Gulzar Delivers a Gripping Battle Over Justice

Movie: Daayra

Director: Meghna Gulzar

Writer: Sima Agarwal, Meghna Gulzar, and Yash Keswani

Stars: Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kanwaljeet Singh, Jitendra Joshi, Seema Azmi, Anuja Sathe, Achint Kaur, and more.

Release Date: 18th Sept 2026

Running Time: 2 hours 23 minutes

Rating: 7 out of 10

Daayra (2026) is a crime thriller that goes beyond the usual police-versus-criminal formula to explore a far more uncomfortable question: what happens when the people responsible for upholding the law disagree about what justice actually means? Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film turns a controversial police encounter into a slow-burning examination of morality, accountability, and public anger.

A Crime Case That Divides the Police

The story begins after four accused in a young girl's gang-rape and murder case are killed in a police encounter. While the public celebrates the incident as instant justice, a Special Investigation Team begins questioning whether the shootout was actually a planned operation.

Leading the investigation is DCP Ajooni Kohli (Kareena Kapoor), who suspects that DCP Raman Kumar (Prithviraj Sukumaran) and his team may have deliberately orchestrated the encounter. What follows is not simply an investigation into what happened, but a confrontation between two police officers who believe they are serving society in completely different ways.

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When Law Meets the Desire for Justice

The strongest element of Daayra is its central moral conflict. Ajooni believes that the police must remain within the boundaries of the law, regardless of how disturbing the crime may be. Raman, meanwhile, represents a more emotionally driven idea of justice, particularly when victims and their families have lost faith in a system that can take years to deliver a verdict.

Meghna Gulzar wisely avoids presenting either perspective as completely straightforward. The film asks whether efficiency can ever justify abandoning due process, and whether a broken or slow system can realistically expect grieving families to wait indefinitely.

A Thought-Provoking Police Procedural

Rather than becoming a conventional whodunit, Daayra develops as a battle of perspectives. The screenplay also touches on difficult questions surrounding juvenile justice, rehabilitation, and society's response to heinous crimes.

However, the ideological debate could have been more evenly developed. Ajooni's argument is rooted strongly in law and procedure, but Raman's emotional conviction receives greater dramatic weight. As a result, the clash sometimes feels slightly unbalanced despite the strength of the underlying premise.

Prithviraj Sukumaran Commands the Screen

Prithviraj Sukumaran delivers the film's standout performance as Raman. His restrained approach makes the character particularly compelling. Behind his calm expressions is a deep anger that gradually becomes visible, allowing the audience to understand Raman's motivations without necessarily agreeing with his methods.

Kareena Kapoor brings conviction to Ajooni, although some of her more dramatic dialogue delivery feels less natural than the grounded tone of the surrounding film. The supporting cast, including Jitendra Joshi and Trupti Khamkar, adds considerable strength, with Khamkar particularly impressive during a tense chase sequence.

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Final Verdict: A Crime Thriller That Raises Difficult Questions

Daayra succeeds because it refuses to offer easy answers. Meghna Gulzar uses the framework of a crime thriller to examine the uneasy space between law and morality, patience and rage, and procedure and closure.

Although the central debate could have been sharper and more balanced, the film remains an engaging and thought-provoking addition to Bollywood's crime-thriller landscape. It leaves viewers with questions rather than conclusions—and that lingering uncertainty is ultimately one of its greatest strengths.

Rating: ★★★⯪☆ (3.5/5)