Meghna Gulzar discusses Daayra’s morally complex story, Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s characters, and AI’s role in cinema.
Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has described her crime drama Daayra as a story designed to challenge audiences rather than tell them which character or viewpoint to support.
During an Expresso conversation with lead actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, Gulzar discussed the film’s approach to crime, punishment and justice. She said the narrative deliberately presents contrasting perspectives through its protagonists, Ajooni and Raman.
Kareena plays Ajooni, a special investigator, while Prithviraj portrays Raman. Gulzar explained that the characters are opposites but also complement each other, making it difficult for the story to exist without either of them.
Kareena and Prithviraj Play Contrasting Characters
Gulzar said she wanted Ajooni to differ from the conventional portrayal of female police officers in Hindi cinema. Because the character works as a special investigator and does not regularly appear in uniform, the filmmaker had greater freedom to design her screen presence.
Kareena said the film was not about choosing sides but about encouraging viewers to think after leaving the theatre.
Prithviraj similarly explained that he did not completely agree or disagree with either protagonist. He said the film gives both perspectives comparable importance before leaving the final moral question with the audience.
Gulzar selected Prithviraj because she wanted Raman to feel regionally neutral rather than being identified exclusively with Hindi cinema. The actor initially expected to reject the film because of scheduling conflicts but changed his decision after hearing the script.
The filmmaker also praised both stars for elevating their characters beyond what she had written, saying they required very little instruction during filming, according to The Indian Express.
Meghna Gulzar Discusses AI and Cinema
Addressing artificial intelligence in filmmaking, Gulzar described herself as an old-school purist. She said AI could function as a tool but could not replace human instinct, intelligence and emotion in storytelling.
Kareena expressed concern about harmful uses of AI involving women online, while Prithviraj said filmmakers would have to adapt to the technology. He predicted that AI could ultimately make original ideas and human-centred storytelling more valuable.
Daayra opened in cinemas with an adult certificate. Early estimates placed its first-day India collection at approximately ₹90 lakh, although box-office figures remain provisional and may change as tracking agencies update their data.
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