Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller Daayra is off to a soft start at the Indian box office. By 8:05 PM on Friday, 18 September 2026, the Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran starrer had collected an estimated Rs 0.63 crore net, according to live data shared by Sacnilk. India gross stood at Rs 0.74 crore.
These are early numbers, not the final Day 1 tally. Evening and night shows were still running when the update landed.
The opening-day picture
Daayra is currently playing across 1,878 shows in India. The Hindi version is doing nearly all the work, with around Rs 0.61 crore, while the Malayalam version added roughly Rs 0.02 crore. Overall occupancy during the day was about 10.1%.
- Live net: Rs 0.63 crore by 8:05 PM
- Gross: Rs 0.74 crore
- Shows: 1,878 across India
- Occupancy: around 10.1%
- Language split: Hindi Rs 0.61 crore, Malayalam Rs 0.02 crore
That is a restrained show count for a cast-led Hindi release, and a 10.1% occupancy level means the film is not filling enough seats in its opening hours. At this pace, the final Day 1 figure may struggle to cross the Rs 1 crore net mark unless late-night occupancy picks up sharply.
Why the start matters
The film’s premise is built around a serious debate. Kareena Kapoor Khan plays DCP Ajooni Kohli, an officer committed to legal procedure and investigation. Prithviraj Sukumaran plays DCP Raman Kumar, who believes the system can fail victims. After a young woman is attacked and killed, Raman’s team kills four suspects in an encounter; Raman becomes a public hero, and Ajooni is asked to investigate whether the police action was planned.
Early reviews have praised the two lead performances and the film’s attempt to handle a difficult subject, while also noting that some ideas are not explored as deeply as expected. For media planners and distribution teams, the number is a reminder that casting alone did not guarantee an opening crowd. The subject has potential for urban multiplex audiences, but low daytime occupancy indicates limited first-day footfalls.
What to track through the weekend
For ScreenStat readers, the next two days will show whether Daayra can move from weak opening to recovery. Watch the Saturday and Sunday occupancy trend, the Hindi contribution in multiplex-heavy markets, and whether the final Friday total lands closer to Rs 1 crore. A compressed theatrical window or faster OTT availability often becomes a bigger talking point when a star-led title starts this quietly, though no platform plan has been announced.
Source: ETV Bharat National
