Daayra, the crime thriller pairing Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran for the first time, has opened on a surprisingly quiet note at the box office. Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the film released in theatres on September 18, 2026, in both Hindi and Malayalam.
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Day 1 Collection Numbers
According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Daayra collected close to Rs 1 crore nett in India on its opening day, with the worldwide gross reaching around Rs 1.08 crore. The film ran across more than 2,200 shows, but overall occupancy stayed low at roughly 11.65 per cent, with night shows performing comparatively better at over 16 per cent.
The Hindi version carried most of the business, while the Malayalam release contributed only a small amount to the overall total.
Lowest Opener Of Kareena’s Career
The numbers place Daayra below The Buckingham Murders, which had collected Rs 1.15 crore net on its first day in 2024 and previously stood as Kareena’s weakest opener. With this release, Daayra has now taken that spot, recording the lowest opening day collection of her career so far.
Losing Out To Vibe
Daayra also released alongside Kunal Kemmu’s action comedy Vibe, starring Preity Zinta and Sparsh Shrivastava. Vibe opened stronger, earning between Rs 1.29 crore and Rs 1.75 crore on day one, putting Daayra behind its clash competitor right from the first day.
What Lies Ahead
Centred on two police officers caught on opposing sides of a controversial encounter case, Daayra has received a mixed but largely appreciative critical response, with reviewers praising its handling of moral complexity. However, the film will need a strong jump over the weekend to recover from its subdued start. Early reactions suggest word of mouth could still work in its favour, but the coming two days will be crucial in deciding whether Daayra can turn its fortunes around.


