Director Meghna Gulzar’s next Daayra with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran has finally concluded its shoot. This latest update was meant to be celebratory. However, it quickly turned controversial as social media users began questioning the film’s intent and direction.
Produced jointly by Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios, Daayra is now moving into post-production. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2026. It is being positioned as an investigative crime thriller that looks at how a single disturbing act can spark sharp reactions across society. The story does not promise easy answers. Instead, it aims to leave viewers thinking long after the credits roll.
Kareena Kapoor And Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Daayra Concludes Filming
Junglee Pictures announced the wrap with a behind-the-scenes photo featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan, director Meghna Gulzar, and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The caption read, “#Daayra! It’s a wrap! Months of hard work, creativity, and collaboration have come together to bring this story to life. Immense gratitude to the cast, crew, and everyone who made this journey possible. Onward to the next chapter! In Cinemas 2026.”
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh also shared the same update, bringing more attention to the film. While fans congratulated the team, a section of users reacted strongly in the comments section.
Soon after the post went live, several users began calling Daayra “another propaganda film.” Some expressed distrust due to Meghna Gulzar’s past work, especially Raazi. One user commented, “I hope this movie is not based in true story otherwise @meghnagulzar will definitely twist it as she did for Raazi.”
Another wrote, “Raazi, what a shit… change the character’s religion to spread aman ki aasha propoganda.”
An angrier comment read, “The sins she committed in Razi by distorting the original story only to show Indian agencies in a bad light and Pakistani agencies as good people will haunt her till her death. Hope one day karma will catch her!”
Why Meghna Gulzar Is Being Criticised
Much of the backlash around Daayra appears linked to the long-running debate around Alia Bhatt starrer Raazi. The depiction of Indian and Pakistani intelligence agencies in the 2018 film had earlier caused a public disagreement between Meghna Gulzar and the book’s author, Harinder Sikka.
Sikka had accused the director of changing key elements of the story to push a “pro-Pakistani” narrative. He had pointed out that the book ended with Sehmat receiving a hero’s welcome and saluting the Indian Tricolour. In contrast, the film showed her returning emotionally broken and traumatised.
He had also criticised the removal of dialogues where Sehmat justified her actions through her love for India. According to Sikka, these changes weakened the portrayal of RAW while softening the image of the Pakistani establishment.
Back then, Meghna Gulzar had defended her choices. She said her intention was to move away from “Pakistan-bashing” and “jingoism.” She explained that showing humanity on both sides was important to convey the emotional cost of espionage. From her perspective, the sombre ending reflected the psychological toll of war rather than casting any agency in a bad light.
Meanwhile, Kareena Kapoor Khan recently shared behind-the-scenes pictures from Daayra while wishing Meghna Gulzar on her birthday. The images showed the director briefing the actor and posing with her on set, offering a glimpse into their collaboration.
