At the ‘Daayra’ press conference in Delhi, Kareena Kapoor Khan discusses her role as DCP Ajuni Kohli and how the film challenges the conventional portrayal of women police officers
NEW DELHI: Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, actor Prithviraj Sukumaran and National Award-winning filmmaker Meghna Gulzar came together for a press conference for their upcoming crime thriller Daayra at PVR Chanakyapuri in New Delhi on September 16.
During the interaction, Kareena spoke at length about her character, DCP Ajuni Kohli, and explained how the role challenges the conventional portrayal of women police officers in Indian cinema.
A Woman Cop Beyond the Usual Stereotype
Kareena pointed out that films often portray women police officers through a traditionally masculine lens, giving them a tough appearance, rugged personality and a strong focus on physical action. Daayra, she said, takes a different approach by presenting a woman officer who does not have to give up her femininity to establish her authority.
“Meghna was very clear from the beginning that she wanted to place a woman police officer at the centre of the story. Ajuni Kohli is a woman who remains comfortable with her femininity while handling her job with strength and sensitivity. She wears lipstick, she smiles, but she remains completely firm when it comes to making decisions,” Kareena said.
Two Officers, Two Perspectives on Justice
Daayra follows a police procedural drama inspired by several real-life incidents. The film explores two different approaches to justice through the investigation of a gang rape and murder case.
Kareena plays DCP Ajuni Kohli, while Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar. As the investigation unfolds, the two officers bring contrasting perspectives to the case, creating the central conflict of the story.
Meghna Gulzar Returns to a Difficult Social Narrative
With Daayra, Meghna Gulzar once again takes on a sensitive subject and examines questions surrounding the system, institutional responsibility and society’s perception of justice. The filmmaker has previously explored complex and socially relevant themes in films such as Talvar and Chhapaak.
The media at the press conference raised several questions about the film’s storyline, characters and sensitive subject matter. Kareena, Prithviraj and Meghna addressed the questions and shared insights into the making of the film and the motivations behind their characters.
With its socially relevant subject, strong performances and a different perspective on the portrayal of women in law enforcement, Daayra aims to take the crime thriller beyond the investigation itself and encourage audiences to look at justice from more than one perspective.
