Casting Surprise: How Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan Convinced Priyadarshan of Their Unusual Roles in ‘Haiwaan’
The anticipation surrounding director Priyadarshan‘s upcoming crime thriller Haiwaan has reached a fever pitch, primarily due to the unexpected casting of two of Bollywood’s biggest stars. In a recent revelation, the veteran filmmaker shared the amusing backstory of how Akshay Kumar came to play the film’s antagonist, noting that the offer was initially met with disbelief by both himself and co-star Saif Ali Khan.
A Prank or a Promise?
The collaboration marks another milestone in the long-standing partnership between Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar, who have previously delivered iconic hits like Hera Pheri and Khatta Meetha. The seeds for Haiwaan—an official Hindi remake of the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam—were sown during the production of their other joint venture, Bhooth Bangla.
According to Priyadarshan, when Akshay first expressed interest in playing the villain, the director dismissed it entirely. “He has a habit of joking and pranking. So, when he said yes, I thought he was fooling me,” Priyadarshan told News18. It wasn’t until the actor circled back to the conversation later that same evening, pressing the director on whether he had “considered the proposal,” that Priyadarshan realized Akshay was entirely serious.
Saif Ali Khan’s Skepticism
The casting dynamic became even more surreal when the news was relayed to the film’s lead, Saif Ali Khan. Already locked in to play a visually impaired protagonist—a challenging role that drew the actor to the project—Saif was initially convinced that the director was pulling his leg.
“When I told Saif that Akshay wants to play the antagonist, he didn’t believe it,” Priyadarshan recalled. “He thought I was joking. He wanted to meet Akshay and hear it from the horse’s mouth.” The director noted that Saif was particularly excited about the script, specifically because it offered him the chance to portray a blind man, a character type he had never attempted in his storied career.
Breaking the Mold
The skepticism surrounding the casting was compounded by the fact that several other actors had previously turned down the role of the antagonist. “I had approached actors not as big as Akshay, who refused this role,” Priyadarshan shared. “Naturally, I thought Akshay also wouldn’t accept this character.”
However, both stars are now fully committed to subverting their screen personas. Priyadarshan believes that Haiwaan presents a version of these actors that audiences have never seen before. Having worked with Akshay for years, the filmmaker expressed genuine excitement at witnessing a “different version” of the superstar during the shoot.
What to Expect
Haiwaan is slated for release on September 11, 2026. The film centers on a blind martial artist (Saif Ali Khan) who finds himself in a desperate race to protect a young girl from a ruthless psychopath (Akshay Kumar). The project boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Saiyami Kher, with Malayalam superstar Mohanlal confirmed for a special cameo appearance.
As the industry looks forward to this high-stakes thriller, it is clear that the project’s success is already rooted in the bold, unconventional choices made by its two leading men.
