Cinema VinesOn September 12, Bollywood Hungama broke the news that the investigative thriller Daayra has secured an “A” certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The film, directed by Meghna Gulzar and featuring Kareena Kapoor Khan alongside Prithviraj Sukumaran, will hit theaters on September 18.
According to the CBFC’s examination report, no visual cuts were demanded, meaning all violent sequences remain intact. The board also left the film’s hard‑hitting dialogue unchanged, a rarity for an adult‑rated release. The only alteration requested was a single word in a line spoken by Kapoor Khan’s character, Aajuni, around the two‑hour mark. The word was replaced with “Minister,” and the dialogue was otherwise left as originally written.
With the change implemented, the film received its certificate on September 11. The certificate lists the runtime as 143 minutes and 16 seconds, translating to 2 hours, 23 minutes and 16 seconds. This length places Daayra among the longer adult‑rated Bollywood releases.
For Kapoor Khan, Daayra marks the tenth film in her career to receive an “A” rating. Her earlier adult‑rated titles include Ajnabee (2001), Chameli (2003), Dev (2004), Omkara (2006), Kurbaan (2009), Heroine (2012), Udta Punjab (2016), Veere Di Wedding (2018) and The Buckingham Murders (2024). The film’s release is anticipated to add another chapter to her adult‑only filmography.
While the CBFC’s decision to leave the majority of the film untouched is welcomed by fans, the single word swap underscores the board’s focus on political and social sensitivities. Daayra promises a blend of gripping narrative and intense dialogue, with no compromise on its visual storytelling.
