The Godfather of Netflix India, Saif Ali Khan, is back with a new Original movie.
Picture: Netflix
Netflix India’s latest Original rural cop drama — following in the footsteps of films like Thar and both seasons of the Khakee franchise — comes with a big star attached. The Hindi film Kartavya (“Duty“) features Saif Ali Khan in the lead role as a police officer. It’s his second time wearing a badge in a Netflix Original after starring in the very first Original Indian series Sacred Games in 2018.
It also marks Khan’s first time working with production house Red Chillies Entertainment. Red Chillies and producer Gauri Khan previously collaborated with Netflix on the Original series The Ba***ds of Bollywood and the gripping Original thriller film Bhakshak. That movie was directed by Pulkit, who reunites with the producer to write and direct Kartavya. Pulkit says:
We set out to craft a grounded, emotionally charged narrative that looks beyond the surface of crime to explore the human conflict at its core. All the actors have brought immense depth to their characters, and with Saif bringing remarkable restraint to a deeply conflicted role, the film invites audiences to reflect on what justice really means when personal stakes are involved.
Pulkit told Variety that Kartavya was filmed and completed in 2024. The film’s release was delayed by Red Chilies due to some “internal staff changes and restructuring” so that the production house could focus on the September 2025 release ofThe Ba***ds of Bollywood,which marked the directorial debut of producer Gauri Khan’s son Aryan.
What is the plot of Kartavya?
Here’s how Netflix describes the plot of this dark thriller:
Kartavya follows Pawan …, a police officer under intense scrutiny after failing to protect a journalist who is shot while under his watch. As pressure mounts from his senior officers, Pawan is drawn into a relentless manhunt for the assailant, one that pulls him deep into a web of power, influence, and deception.
At the same time, his personal life begins to unravel as his family is threatened over a dispute involving his brother, pulling Pawan into conflict both within the system and at home. As the case deepens, he finds himself torn between duty and family, where every choice carries a cost.
Who is cast in Kartavya?
Saif Ali Khan stars as police officer Pawan. Khan says of his character:
Pawan is a man constantly negotiating with himself, between what he believes is right, what’s expected of him, and what he must protect. What drew me to Kartavya is that it doesn’t offer easy answers; it puts you in uncomfortable spaces and forces you to ask what you would do when every choice comes at a personal cost.
Kartavya marks the acting debut of journalist Saurabh Dwivedi.
Other key cast members include:
- Rasika Dugal(Delhi Crime)
- Sanjay Mishra(Bhakshak)
- Zakir Hussain(Aranyak)
- Manish Chaudhari(Kohrra)
Kartavya has a runtime of 1 hour 48 minutes and a TV-MA rating in the US for language and smoking. This movie is available to watch in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Portuguese (Brazil), Polish, French, Arabic (Syria), and Indonesian, with subtitles available in English, Arabic, French, Hindi, Polish, Ukrainian, Chinese (Simplified), and Chinese (Traditional).
You can see more of Netflix’s upcoming TV and movie slate from India scheduled to arrive in 2026 in the link provided.
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