Daayra Box Office: Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran Film Opens to ₹90 Lakh
Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller Daayra, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran, opened in cinemas on September 18, 2026. Despite the combination of a prominent cast and an established filmmaker, the film recorded an estimated ₹90 lakh net collection in India on Day 1, according to trade tracker Sacnilk.
The opening gives Daayra a slow start at the domestic box office as it begins its theatrical run.
Daayra Day 1 Box Office Collection
According to early Sacnilk estimates reported by multiple outlets, Daayra collected approximately ₹90 lakh net in India on its opening day. The film was screened across more than 2,200 shows and recorded overall occupancy of around 12% on Friday.
The reported India gross collection was approximately ₹1.08 crore, while the ₹90 lakh figure represents the estimated India net collection. These first-day numbers are preliminary and can be revised as additional data is incorporated.
Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s First Big-Screen Collaboration
Daayra brings Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran together for the first time on the big screen. The film is directed by Meghna Gulzar and combines a police procedural with questions surrounding crime, justice, morality and accountability.
Kareena plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, who is assigned to investigate a controversial police encounter. Prithviraj portrays DCP Raman Kumar, whose actions become central to the investigation.
The story is set against the aftermath of a rape-and-murder case and the encounter involving the accused, placing the two police officers on opposing sides of a moral and legal conflict.
Daayra Records Around 11.65% Hindi Occupancy
The film was released in Hindi and Malayalam, although the Hindi version contributed the majority of its opening-day business. Sacnilk data cited by NDTV showed an overall Hindi occupancy of around 11.65% on Friday.
The film’s reported show count was around 2,238–2,283 across India, depending on the stage of tracking and source. The Malayalam version contributed only a small portion of the overall opening-day collection.
Daayra Becomes Kareena Kapoor’s Lowest Opener
The ₹90 lakh opening is being reported as the lowest opening for a Kareena Kapoor film, based on the box-office comparisons published by The Indian Express and other outlets. The performance is also below the opening of her previous theatrical release, The Buckingham Murders.
The result comes as Kareena returns to cinemas with a serious crime drama rather than a conventional commercial entertainer. The film’s performance over the first weekend will therefore be important in determining whether it can build momentum through audience word of mouth.
Competition at the Box Office
Daayra also faced competition from Kunal Kemmu’s Vibe, which released on the same day. Early estimates cited by NDTV put Vibe at around ₹1.29 crore net on Day 1, ahead of Daayra.
The film is also competing for audience attention with Hanuman Ansh, which has continued to perform strongly in the Hindi market, according to recent box-office reports.
Meghna Gulzar’s Track Record
For director Meghna Gulzar, Daayra follows films including Talvar, Raazi and Sam Bahadur. Raazi remains her biggest commercial success, while Sam Bahadur also delivered a strong theatrical run, according to The Indian Express.
Daayra takes a more intense route, focusing on the conflict between legal procedure and competing ideas of justice. The subject matter and performances have generated discussion, although early reviews have also pointed to issues with the film’s pacing and narrative execution.
What Could Happen Next at the Box Office?
With a ₹90 lakh opening, Daayra will need stronger collections over Saturday and Sunday to build a meaningful theatrical run. Weekend growth will depend on audience response, occupancy trends and the film’s ability to attract viewers beyond its initial audience.
The first-day figures are estimates rather than final producer-reported numbers, so they may change slightly as reporting is updated.
Looking Ahead
Daayra has started its theatrical journey with an estimated ₹90 lakh India net collection on Day 1. The Meghna Gulzar-directed crime thriller has a high-profile pairing in Kareena Kapoor and Prithviraj Sukumaran, but its initial box-office response has been modest.
The coming weekend will provide a clearer picture of whether the film can gain momentum and improve its theatrical performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much did Daayra earn on Day 1?
Daayra earned an estimated ₹90 lakh net in India on its opening day, according to Sacnilk estimates cited by multiple reports.
2. Who directed Daayra?
Daayra was directed by Meghna Gulzar.
3. Who stars in Daayra?
The film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran in the lead roles.
4. When did Daayra release?
Daayra was released in Indian cinemas on September 18, 2026.
5. What is Daayra about?
The film revolves around two police officers dealing with the aftermath of a controversial encounter linked to a rape-and-murder case and explores questions of justice, morality and legal procedure.
6. What was Daayra’s India gross collection on Day 1?
The estimated India gross collection was approximately ₹1.08 crore, compared with ₹90 lakh in estimated India net collection.
7. In which languages was Daayra released?
The film was released in Hindi and Malayalam, with the Hindi version generating the majority of its opening-day earnings.
8. What was Daayra’s Hindi occupancy on Day 1?
The film recorded approximately 11.65% overall Hindi occupancy on Friday, according to Sacnilk data cited by NDTV.
9. Is Daayra Kareena Kapoor’s lowest opener?
Reports based on current box-office estimates identify the ₹90 lakh opening as Kareena Kapoor’s lowest opening-day collection.
10. Who plays the police officers in Daayra?
Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar, while Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli.
