Kartavya (2026)
DirectorPulkit
StarringSaif Ali Khan, Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra, Saurabh Dwivedi
Watch onNetflix
Best for: Adult viewers who like tense, character-driven Hindi crime dramas about moral pressure.
Where to watch Kartavya online in India
Subscription
NetflixAvailability for India, data by JustWatch. Updated 23 October 2026.
Kartavya OTT release date
| OTT / digital release (India) | 15 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Streaming now on | Netflix |
Release dates for India as listed on TMDB.
Kartavya story (no spoilers)
Kartavya is a Hindi crime drama thriller starring Saif Ali Khan as Pawan Malik, a police officer whose family's safety is threatened as menacing forces close in. The film sets up a moral pressure cooker: Pawan must weigh his duty against the danger facing his loved ones, with the tension driven by the men around him — Ashok (Sanjay Mishra), Harihar (Zakir Hussain), Keshav (Manish Chaudhary), Anand Shri (Saurabh Dwivedi), Amar (Durgesh Kumar) and Nirmal (Saharsh Kumar Shukla), while Varsha (Rasika Dugal) is part of his personal stakes. Directed by Pulkit and running 109 minutes, the tone is serious and grounded rather than action-spectacle, leaning on threat, dilemma and consequence. The film is certified U/A 16+ in India and released on 15 May 2026, also arriving on Netflix in India the same day. Its conflict is not about catching a single criminal but about how far a duty-bound officer will go when the cost lands on his own household.
Should you watch Kartavya?
Watch it for
- Saif Ali Khan plays Pawan Malik, a police officer caught between duty and his family's safety, a role that puts the film's moral conflict front and centre.
- The supporting cast includes Rasika Dugal as Varsha, Sanjay Mishra as Ashok, Zakir Hussain as Harihar and Manish Chaudhary as Keshav, giving the thriller a deep bench of character actors.
- Director Pulkit works in the crime-drama-thriller space here, and the 109-minute runtime keeps the story tight rather than stretched.
- It is a Hindi-language film certified U/A 16+, so the tone is aimed at mature viewers rather than family audiences.
Skip it if
- You want a light or family-friendly watch — Kartavya is a crime drama thriller certified U/A 16+ in India.
- You prefer action-led police stories over a dilemma-driven plot about a family under threat.
- You are looking for a long, multi-layered crime saga; at 109 minutes, this is a compact single-film story.
Kartavya cast
Saif Ali Khanas Pawan Malik
Rasika Dugalas Varsha
Sanjay Mishraas Ashok
Saurabh Dwivedias Anand Shri
Zakir Hussainas Harihar
Manish Chaudharyas Keshav
Durgesh Kumaras Amar
Saharsh Kumar Shuklaas NirmalKartavya movie details
| Director | Pulkit |
|---|---|
| Writer | Pulkit |
| Music | Anurag Saikia |
| Cinematography | Anil Mehta |
| Producer | Gauri Khan, Shah Rukh Khan |
| Release date | 15 May 2026 |
| Runtime | 1h 49m (109 minutes) |
| Original language | Hindi |
| Country of origin | India |
| Languages spoken in the film | Hindi |
| Original title | कर्त्तव्य |
| Certificate (India) | U/A 16+ |
Parental guide: is Kartavya family friendly?
This is a general guide based on the crime-drama-thriller genre and the U/A 16+ certificate; the film deals with threats to a police officer's family. This is a general guide based on genre and certification.
Kartavya official trailer
Our verdict
Kartavya is a compact Hindi thriller that puts Saif Ali Khan's Pawan Malik in a genuine bind between duty and family safety. The presence of Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra, Zakir Hussain and Manish Chaudhary suggests the drama leans on character rather than pure action. At 109 minutes and U/A 16+, it is a focused adult watch rather than a crowd-pleasing family film.
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Bunty Aur Babli 2Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Kartavya online in India?
Kartavya is available on Netflix in India. It is not listed as a free streaming title in India.
When did Kartavya release?
Kartavya released on 15 May 2026. Its OTT release date in India is also 15 May 2026.
Who is in the cast of Kartavya?
The cast includes Saif Ali Khan as Pawan Malik, Rasika Dugal as Varsha, Sanjay Mishra as Ashok, Saurabh Dwivedi as Anand Shri, Zakir Hussain as Harihar, Manish Chaudhary as Keshav, Durgesh Kumar as Amar and Saharsh Kumar Shukla as Nirmal.
Who directed Kartavya?
Kartavya is directed by Pulkit. The music is by Anurag Saikia.
What is the runtime and certificate of Kartavya?
Kartavya runs 109 minutes. It is certified U/A 16+ in India.
Page last updated 23 October 2026. Facts from TMDB; how we write these pages: editorial policy.