Daayra Audience Review: Kareena Kapoor, Prithviraj Sukumaran's Movie Is A 'Confusing' Murder Mystery
Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s much-awaited thriller Daayra has finally arrived in theatres, and the film has started receiving reactions from audiences.
The initial response to Meghna Gulzar’s latest directorial appears to be mixed, with viewers divided over the film.
Daayra Audience ReviewWhile some moviegoers have described Daayra
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh wrote, "Gripping. Disturbing. Socially relevant... #Daayra rides on the brilliant performances of #Kareena and #Prithviraj, with director #MeghnaGulzar once again proving her mastery as a storyteller. #DaayraReview #Daayra
#OneWordReview...
#Daayra: POWERFUL.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Gripping. Disturbing. Socially relevant... #Daayra rides on the brilliant performances of #Kareena and #Prithviraj, with director #MeghnaGulzar once again proving her mastery as a storyteller. #DaayraReview
#Daayra is intense and raises some pertinent questions... The build-up is slow, but once the plot thickens, you become a participant, not merely a viewer.
Meghna proves once again what an accomplished storyteller she is... She presents two diametrically opposite perspectives, refuses to take sides, and leaves the ending open-ended... Those seeking clear-cut closure may find the culmination unsettling.
The horrifying act, dramatic highs, and emotional undercurrents make #Daayra a gripping watch... That said, the film gets technical and talk-heavy at places, which could limit its reach.
Kareena is terrific – restrained, layered, commanding... Prithviraj is outstanding, conveying volumes through his eyes and body language.
Special mention for #JitendraJoshi, who is first-rate, and #KshiteeJog, as the victim's mother, who is simply superb.
Final word? #Daayra is a well-crafted, thought-provoking film, but the subject matter, serious treatment, and talk-heavy portions make it cater to a niche audience... Dependent on strong word of mouth to leave a mark.
— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) September 18, 2026
One user commented, “Without revealing much about the story, the one major reason why the film does not hold is because the screenplay isn’t as taut as it should’ve been. The proceedings are neither exciting nor gripping. The narrative moves at a snail pace and barely grabs your attention. Talking about the performances, Kareena, who has now mastered the art of essaying grief, only skims the surface and shockingly looks disinterested in many scenes.”
#Daayra: DULL
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
#DaayraReview
Filmmaker #MeghnaGulzar has crafted some impressive films such ws #Raazi & #SamBahadur which were commercially successful. That is precisely the reason why her next film 'Daayra' showed immense promise.
And the casting showed hope too. It had two solid actors #KareenaKapoorKhan and @PrithviOfficial leading the drama.
The expectations became little low when the trailer dropped which barely had anything to offer. And unfortunately, the film turns out to be exactly how the trailer was- Dull and Dry. Gulzar attempts to veer into the space of police procedurals and the grime the world carries.
Without revealing much about the story, the one major reason why the film does not hold is because the screenplay isn’t as taut as it should’ve been. The proceedings are neither exciting nor gripping. The narrative moves at a snail pace and barely grabs your attention.
Talking about the performances, Kareena, who has now mastered the art of essaying grief, only skims the surface and shockingly looks disinterested in many scenes.
@PrithviOfficial shines and displays why he’s one of the finest performers we have in the industry. But director @meghnagulzar isn’t in her elements this time and fails to do justice to a ripe subject.
To add insult to the injury, @JungleePictures started flashing their fake reviews before the release, which will only harm the film.
This should have been the dark horse of 2026, unfortunately, it is the complete opposite.
— Box Office Chronicle (@BoxOffice_Truth) September 18, 2026
Another user commented, “The films tells the story of two officers investigating the same case and how they unravel a chain of hidden secrets and intentions. The strongest base for a film like this has to be the performance. But Kareena, who has been impressive in almost all her films, barely registers here. In many of the crucial scenes, she’s surprisingly out of depth.”
#DaayraReview: ⭐️⭐️
#Daayra is DISAPPOINTING FILM.
With films like Omkara, LaalSinghChaddha, and TheBuckinghamMurders, actress #KareenaKapoorKhan got to explore a lot more about herself. There was a lot more to her than style and sass and these films displayed them with effortless ease.
And with Daayra, which marks her first collaboration with #MeghnaGulzar, expectations were high. But does it live up to the limited hype it generated? The answer is a sad NO!
The films tells the story of two officers investigating the same case and how they unravel a chain of hidden secrets and intentions. The strongest base for a film like this has to be the performance. But Kareena, who has been impressive in almost all her films, barely registers here. In many of the crucial scenes, she’s surprisingly out of depth.
The two performances that deserve praise are #KshiteeJog as the victim’s mother and @PrithviOfficial. Also, the film is too dark and at some places, dry to appeal to a wider audience. Which will restrict its prospects at the box-office.
Music by #KetanSodha and #AmitTrivedi also fails to leave a mark.
On the whole, Daayra is disappointing and genuinely feels like an opportunity lost.
— Vishwajit Patil (@_PatilVishwajit) September 18, 2026
One user wrote, “Honestly, I have no idea what Daayra was trying to say. The plot is painfully slow, predictable and unnecessarily confusing, eventually building up to a climax that feels completely absurd. The film desperately wants to be intellectual and profound, but all that complexity never translates into anything meaningful.”
Daayra Quick Review-
Honestly, I have no idea what *Daayra* was trying to say. The plot is painfully slow, predictable and unnecessarily confusing, eventually building up to a climax that feels completely absurd. The film desperately wants to be intellectual and profound, but all that complexity never translates into anything meaningful.
At times, even a random *Crime Patrol* episode feels more engaging, coherent and effective than this.
What’s even more baffling is the stark contrast between *Talvar* and *Daayra*. They feel like films made by two entirely different directors. It’s hard to believe the same Meghna Gulzar who delivered the sharp, gripping *Talvar* made *Daayra*. The difference in storytelling is that drastic.
**This is heading straight for a disaster.** With advance bookings reportedly hovering around ₹11 lakh ? against an estimated ₹55 crore budget, even crossing ₹1.5 crore on Day 1 looks like a massive challenge ?
And Kareena Kapoor Khan — talented, versatile and completely wasted here.
**⭐ 1.5/5**
#Daayra #KareenaKapoorKhan #MeghnnaGulzar #PrithvirajSukumaran
— Mohammad Naseem Tanvir Ali Khan (@suhananasimkhan) September 16, 2026
With the film now playing on the big screen, it remains to be seen whether word of mouth improves over the coming days and translates into stronger audience traction.