"The first half is deliberate rather than gripping."
Meghna Gulzar’s directorial Daayra is finally getting its OTT premiere on Netflix.
The film brings together Kareena Kapoor Khan and Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran for the first time.
The streaming platform revealed the news through a new post on social media.
Netflix India South took to its X account to announce the release date.
Daayra will begin streaming on Netflix on November 13, 2026.
The film will be available on the platform in two languages, Hindi and Malayalam.
It is about two police officers who find themselves in a moral conflict.
That conflict follows a controversial encounter killing linked to a brutal rape and murder case.
The story revolves around Ajooni, played by Kareena Kapoor, who heads a special investigation team.
Her team is probing a police encounter involving multiple men accused of gang raping a young girl.
The accused are alleged to have burned the girl to death after the crime.
The encounter was carried out by DCP Raman Kumar, played by Prithviraj Sukumaran, and his team.
They claim that all the accused tried to flee during custody.
What Ajooni uncovers during the investigation forms the crux of the story.
Rishabh Suri gave the film 3 stars in his review, writing:
“The first half is deliberate rather than gripping.
“The subject is important, and what works in the film’s favour is its willingness to let the investigation breathe.
“The procedural drama is given room to play out instead of being rushed from one revelation to another.
“The trade-off, however, is that the film sometimes lacks the urgency one would expect from such a disturbing case.
“The second half picks up pace and moves towards its climax.”
He further wrote: “While the conclusion may not come as a complete surprise, there are enough compelling moments along the way to keep you invested.
“The film’s strength lies less in shock value and more in the questions it raises about institutions and accountability.”
Kareena also addressed the contrast between her role in Daayra and her association with Rohit Shetty’s cop universe.
In that universe, police characters are presented in a larger-than-life commercial setting.
The star told a news agency: “Every director operates in a different universe.”
She described Rohit Shetty’s cop universe as “larger-than-life” and Meghna’s world as “grounded, realistic, and complex.”
Kareena Kapoor added: “As an actor, I feel fortunate to straddle both worlds comfortably.”
The film marks a notable pairing of two stars from different film industries.
Audiences who missed it earlier can now watch it from the comfort of their homes.
