Daayra Early Reviews Split Ahead of Kareena–Prithviraj Sept. 18 Release

Early reactions to Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller Daayra are rolling in from preview screenings a day before its September 18, 2026 theatrical release, with critics splitting on pacing while largely praising Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran as opposing senior cops, ETV Bharat reported. Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli IPS; Sukumaran portrays DCP Raman Kumar IPS in a story sparked by a crime that divides public opinion and launches twin investigations.

One early review scored the film 3.5/5 as an “intense, intriguing and impactful” thriller that asks where the line falls when demands for instant justice collide with the rule of law. Another called it a below-par thriller at 2/5, citing middling screenplay, loopholes, and uneven pace—even while conceding hard-hitting sequences and star wattage when Kapoor Khan is on screen. Supporting turns, including Kshitee Jog’s emotional beats, also drew notice at Delhi and Mumbai previews.

Gulzar has described Daayra as a journey between “right, wrong and truth,” saying the film is inspired by real incidents she kept from distorting while still making them cinematic. The trailer and casting materials position the leads on opposite sides of justice inside the same system, Bollywood Hungama noted when the trailer landed.

Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios produce, with Vineet Jain and Dhaval Jain among the producers and Pen Marudhar handling distribution. The ensemble includes Jitendra Joshi, Kanwaljeet Singh, Sandeep Kulkarni, and Trupti Khamkar. For Gulzar—coming off work such as Raazi, Talvar, and Sam Bahadur—the release is another high-stakes dive into grey-zone justice cinema.

With tickets already in play and early buzz mixed but performance-forward, Friday’s nationwide open will decide whether Daayra converts preview heat into a sustained multiplex run for Hindi adult thrillers this September.