2026 · Film
Daayra
Meghna Gulzar's crime thriller in which Kareena Kapoor plays an IPS officer investigating a police encounter that turned Prithviraj Sukumaran's officer into a national hero.
Released Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Mon, 26 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 26 October 2026, we found no Hindi version of Daayra streaming in India. No longer listed on District in the cities checked (26 Oct 2026) and not yet streaming; no OTT partner officially announced.
The story
After a young woman is brutally raped and murdered, a police encounter follows, and the officer behind it, Raman Kumar, is hailed across the country as a national hero. The killing also raises uneasy questions about justice and the rule of law. When a determined IPS officer, Ajooni Kohli, is assigned to investigate the encounter, she starts finding inconsistencies that do not fit the official account, and her inquiry begins to test the story the whole country has accepted.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
Best for adults who like serious police dramas about justice and the rule of law. It is rated A, runs about two hours and 20 minutes, and deals with rape, murder and police violence, so it is not suitable for children.
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
Daayra ("circle") was co-written and directed by Meghna Gulzar, whose earlier films include Talvar and Raazi, and is inspired by real events. Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios produced it, with songs by Amit Trivedi and lyrics by Gulzar.
The CBFC passed it A in September 2026 without visual cuts. It opened in cinemas on 18 September 2026 in Hindi and Malayalam, clashing with Vibe; Parvathy Thiruvothu voiced Kareena Kapoor's character in the Malayalam version. Special screenings were held in Mumbai and Delhi the night before. Reviews were largely positive, but it had a slow start of under ₹1 crore nett on day one, and Bollywood Hungama lists an India nett of roughly ₹6 crore. No streaming platform had been officially announced by 26 October 2026.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Crime thriller, Police drama
- Runtime
- 143 min
- Certificate
- A
- Director
- Meghna Gulzar
- Cast
- Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Kanwaljit Singh, Jitendra Joshi
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Daayra in India?
- As of 26 October 2026, we found no Hindi version of Daayra streaming in India. No longer listed on District in the cities checked (26 Oct 2026) and not yet streaming; no OTT partner officially announced.
- Is Daayra in Hindi?
- Yes. Daayra is a Hindi-language film.
- When will Daayra come to OTT?
- No OTT release date has been announced for Daayra yet. We will update this page when a date is confirmed.
- Is Daayra suitable for children?
- Daayra has a CBFC A certificate, which means it is restricted to adults aged 18 and above.
- How long is Daayra?
- Daayra runs for 2 hours 23 minutes (143 minutes).