Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Anupama Chopra sits down with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Meghna Gulzar for InFocus, ahead of the release of Daayra — Meghna's crime thriller that puts two senior police officers, DCP Ajooni Kohli and DCP Raman Kumar, on opposing sides of the same case. The three discuss how the casting came together, why Meghna wanted a geography-neutral story with an actor from outside Hindi cinema, and the on-set arguments between director and actor where, as Prithviraj puts it, no "why" ever goes unanswered. Kareena opens up about playing an unreadable character almost entirely through her eyes, while Meghna explains why a film built on an amalgamation of true events still leaves no room for creative liberties.
The conversation also covers the ethics of dramatizing real incidents, what Daayra says about police authority in a landscape of grey, Gulzar's visit to the set, Bhavani Iyer's description of Meghna as a purist, and the trio's five all-time favourite films — from Bridges of Madison County to When Harry Met Sally. Daayra releases in cinemas on September 18, 2026.
0:00 The casting of Daayra
4:38 No north, no south — only actors
9:12 Readings, whys and arguments
13:51 Playing Ajooni through the eyes
15:47 IMDb Segment
18:27 Five all-time favourite films
23:07 Navigating fact and fiction
27:38 Ajooni's inner conflict
31:57 A well-oiled machin
#Daayra #KareenaKapoorKhan #PrithvirajSukumaran
Anupama Chopra sits down with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Meghna Gulzar for InFocus, ahead of the release of Daayra — Meghna's crime thriller that puts two senior police officers, DCP Ajooni Kohli and DCP Raman Kumar, on opposing sides of the same case. The three discuss how the casting came together, why Meghna wanted a geography-neutral story with an actor from outside Hindi cinema, and the on-set arguments between director and actor where, as Prithviraj puts it, no "why" ever goes unanswered. Kareena opens up about playing an unreadable character almost entirely through her eyes, while Meghna explains why a film built on an amalgamation of true events still leaves no room for creative liberties.
The conversation also covers the ethics of dramatizing real incidents, what Daayra says about police authority in a landscape of grey, Gulzar's visit to the set, Bhavani Iyer's description of Meghna as a purist, and the trio's five all-time favourite films — from Bridges of Madison County to When Harry Met Sally. Daayra releases in cinemas on September 18, 2026.
0:00 The casting of Daayra
4:38 No north, no south — only actors
9:12 Readings, whys and arguments
13:51 Playing Ajooni through the eyes
15:47 IMDb Segment
18:27 Five all-time favourite films
23:07 Navigating fact and fiction
27:38 Ajooni's inner conflict
31:57 A well-oiled machin
#Daayra #KareenaKapoorKhan #PrithvirajSukumaran
