Praising Daayra's Balanced Direction
Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor Praise Meghna Gulzar's Balanced Direction in Daayra
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Key Points
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Prithviraj Sukumaran’s character, DCP Raman Kumar, comes under investigation after an allegedly staged encounter, placing him in direct conflict with Kareena Kapoor’s DCP Ajooni Kohli.
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Sukumaran said Gulzar’s commitment to neutrality extended to highly specific filmmaking decisions, including choosing when to frame a character in close-up; he viewed these choices as deliberately designed to preserve the story’s balance.
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Kapoor said working with Gulzar changed her personally, adding that the director’s demanding preparation and command on set “brought a different dimension to my personality.”
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Sukumaran described Daayra as the film on which he had the greatest number of arguments with Gulzar, but said she won each disagreement because she had answers to questions raised not only by him, but also by Kapoor and the crew.
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Kapoor’s comments came at Daayra’s music launch, where she said Gulzar’s strictness required her to keep herself “always in check” despite her 26 years in the acting profession.
Actors Prithviraj Sukumaran and Kareena Kapoor have praised director Meghna Gulzar's disciplined approach to Daayra, an investigative crime thriller about two police officers on opposing sides of a moral conflict. Sukumaran credited Gulzar with maintaining "brutal objectivity" that deliberately presents both perspectives without declaring one right or wrong, according to Zoom TV Entertainment. Kapoor, who plays DCP Ajooni Kohli opposite Sukumaran's DCP Raman Kumar, called Gulzar a commanding "taskmaster" who demanded exceptional preparation from her veteran cast.
Gulzar's Deliberate Neutrality in Filmmaking
Gulzar's commitment to balance extends to highly specific creative choices on set. Sukumaran said she carefully decides when to frame a character in close-up or maintain distance, viewing these decisions as deliberately designed to preserve the story's moral neutrality, per Zoom TV Entertainment. Each choice reinforces the film's refusal to favor either officer's position.
A Demanding Director Who Wins Creative Arguments
Sukumaran described Daayra as the film where he argued most with Gulzar—yet she won every disagreement. Her thorough preparation gave her answers not only to his questions, but also to concerns from Kapoor and the entire crew, he said according to Zoom TV Entertainment. This preparedness commanded respect from both veteran actors on set.
Kapoor's Personal Growth Under Gulzar's Leadership
Kapoor said working with Gulzar changed her personally despite her 26 years in film. At the music launch, she revealed the director's strictness required her to keep herself "always in check," per HungamaExpress. Gulzar's commanding presence and demanding preparation made Kapoor feel like a newcomer and brought "a different dimension" to her craft, transforming how she approached her role as the unconventional female cop.
DCP Ajooni Breaks Bollywood's Cop Stereotype
Kapoor's character stands apart from typical portrayals of female police officers in Indian cinema. News18 reported that Bollywood usually depicts female cops as "butch" and action-focused, but Ajooni Kohli is deliberately "feminine." This unconventional approach reflects Kapoor's desire to play diverse roles that challenge audience expectations and industry norms.
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