Priyadarshan is returning to the thriller genre after years, and the teaser of Haiwaan has immediately created strong buzz. Contrary to expectations, the film is not a comedy or light entertainer. It appears to be a dark cat-and-mouse thriller between the hunter and the hunted.
Priyadarshan has described Haiwaan as one of the slickest films he has made and his return to action thrillers after 16 years. The teaser certainly reflects that shift, with a darker visual style, raw action and intense confrontations.
The biggest talking point is Akshay Kumar as the villain. This marks his first full-fledged negative role in nearly 18 years. Akshay has described his character as completely evil with no grey shades and said he always wanted to play a psycho on screen.
The actor also sees Haiwaan as another attempt to challenge himself after experimenting with comedy, horror, action and drama in recent films.
Saif Ali Khan is creating equal curiosity. His posters describe him as Every sense is a weapon, while reports suggest he plays a blind martial artist. The teaser appears to build a strong visual contrast between Saif and Akshay, making their eventual confrontation one of the film’s major attractions.
Haiwaan also marks the reunion of Akshay and Saif after Tashan in 2008, adding another layer of nostalgia to the project.
The teaser’s visual style has also received attention. Instead of the bright presentation often associated with mainstream Hindi action films, Priyadarshan has opted for darker tones, neon lighting and a gritty atmosphere. The sword fights and physical combat also appear more brutal and grounded.
There is another major attraction for Malayalam cinema fans. Haiwaan is reportedly the Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, with Saif taking over the role originally played by Mohanlal.
Mohanlal is also expected to make a special appearance, though Priyadarshan has promised that his role will be a surprise.
After years of comedy-driven expectations around Priyadarshan, Haiwaan is clearly attempting something very different.
With Akshay embracing pure evil, Saif playing a blind fighter and Mohanlal potentially entering the picture, the teaser has given the film plenty of ammunition to create curiosity.
Haiwaan is scheduled to release on September 11, 2026.
