Cinema VinesKareena Kapoor is set to return to the big screen with Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller Daayra, taking on the role of a police officer named DCP Ajooni. The 25‑year‑old actress, who has consistently pushed boundaries in her career, explained that the character breaks away from the stereotypical portrayal of female cops in Indian cinema.
During a promotional event in Delhi on Wednesday, Kapoor highlighted how Ajooni is “feminine, puts on lipstick, yet stern and action‑ready.” She noted that the film’s sensitive subject matter required a woman cop who is both gentle and decisive, challenging the usual “butch” image of a cop who is gun‑toting and action‑heavy.
The story follows two police officers at odds over how best to punish criminals. Prithviraj Sukumaran co‑stars as Raman, while Kapoor’s Ajooni faces moral complexity that makes the role difficult to portray. She described the film’s grey morality compared to her own black‑and‑white worldview, emphasizing the conflict inherent in both characters.
Kapoor also clarified that she has no interest in moving behind the camera and will continue to focus solely on acting. “I love acting and don’t have any other interests like producing or directing,” she said, adding that she seeks out interesting characters to play.
Daayra is co‑written and directed by Meghna Gulzar, produced by Junglee Pictures and Pen Studios, and will hit theatres on September 18. The film is unique in that it contains no songs, a detail confirmed by Gulzar’s father and lyricist Gulzar. Kapoor’s appearance on the big screen follows a two‑year hiatus, her last film being Singham Again in 2024. The movie is being covered by entertainment editor Abhimanyu Mathur of the Hindustan Times, who has a long history of reporting on cinema, television, cricket, and politics.
