The much-anticipated collaboration between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, Haiwaan, directed by the seasoned veteran Priyadarshan, has hit a sobering reality check at the domestic box office. As the industry watches the numbers roll in for its first Sunday, the picture painted is one of a hard-fought uphill battle. With a meager Rs 0.46 crore reported in the early hours of the day, the film is currently struggling to cross the Rs 10-crore threshold, a figure that is usually a breeze for stars of this magnitude.
The Mathematical Reality: A Stagnant Start
In an era where “opening weekend” can make or break a film’s legacy, Haiwaan finds itself in a precarious position. The film premiered to a lukewarm Rs 3 crore on Friday, followed by a slight dip to Rs 2.50 crore on Saturday. As of Sunday, with the total net collection standing at roughly Rs 5.96 crore, the production is feeling the heat.
While box office projections often lean on the “evening pickup” theory—where footfalls increase as the weekend hits its stride—the current data suggests that Haiwaan is failing to ignite the spark among general audiences. Across 2,383 shows, the average occupancy is not reflecting the kind of star power one typically expects from an Akshay-Saif reunion. Industry analysts are already shifting their focus to whether the film can maintain enough screen count to stay relevant past the upcoming week.
The Triple-Threat Clash: A Crowded Marketplace
Part of the reason for Haiwaan’s sluggish pace is the sheer aggression of the competition. The theatrical landscape is currently a battlefield, and Haiwaan has found itself squeezed by two major contenders. On one side, the cinematic expansion of the Mirzapur universe has arrived with the full weight of its massive, dedicated streaming fanbase. With heavy-hitters like Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, and Divyenddu commanding the screen, the Mirzapur movie is siphoning off the young, urban demographic that usually serves as the backbone for Friday releases.
Simultaneously, the mythologically charged Hanuman Ansh is providing a distinct alternative for family audiences. By occupying two vastly different genres—gritty crime drama and mythological spectacle—these two rivals have left Haiwaan fighting for space in a saturated market. The film’s inability to carve out a unique identity amidst this noise is clearly reflecting in the dwindling ticket sales.
The Remake Dilemma: Searching for the ‘Oppam’ Magic
Haiwaan serves as a high-profile remake of Priyadarshan’s acclaimed 2016 Malayalam thriller, Oppam. While the original was a masterclass in suspense, helmed by the legendary Mohanlal, the Hindi adaptation seems to be struggling with the inevitable comparison trap. Even with a special cameo by the Malayalam superstar himself, the film has failed to capture the novelty factor that usually fuels remakes.
Critics have pointed to the 164-minute runtime as a potential hurdle in the modern cinema climate. In an age of short-form content and binge-watching, asking audiences to sit through nearly three hours of a remake they may already have seen—or heard about—is a tall order. The U/A 16+ certificate suggests a tone that is meant for a mature audience, but the pacing seems to be testing the patience of the very demographic it sought to court.
Star Power vs. The Scripting Void
The reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan—who famously shared great chemistry in the Main Khiladi Tu Anari days—should have been a surefire hit on paper. However, the current numbers underscore a recurring theme in the industry: star power alone is no longer enough to guarantee an opening. When the script fails to provide the narrative stakes necessary to hold a viewer’s interest for 164 minutes, even the most bankable actors in Bollywood can find themselves staring at a bleak balance sheet.
Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher, and Shriya Pilgaonkar round out a respectable cast, yet their presence hasn’t been enough to move the needle against the wave of negativity from early reviews. For a director like Priyadarshan, who is known for his signature comedic timing and sharp thrillers, Haiwaan is proving to be a creative and financial bottleneck.
What Lies Ahead for ‘Haiwaan’?
As Sunday winds down, the focus turns to Monday. If the film cannot demonstrate a significant trend-defying hold, the theater chains will likely prioritize the higher-grossing Mirzapur movie and Hanuman Ansh come Friday.
For the producers, the hope lies in international markets and a potential shift in momentum through word-of-mouth. However, given the current lukewarm reception, it is highly probable that Haiwaan will be remembered as a missed opportunity—a project that relied too heavily on nostalgia and star-studded casting while neglecting to provide a compelling, tightened narrative for a modern audience. The box office does not lie, and at this moment, the audience has spoken: they are choosing the grit of Mirzapur and the lore of Hanuman Ansh over this particular cinematic experiment.
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