The film puts Saif Ali Khan in the role of Shyam Rane, a visually impaired man with highly developed senses, while Akshay Kumar plays the dangerous Parshuram. Their conflict forms the heart of the movie, with murder, revenge, police investigation and a young girl caught in the middle.
Haiwaan released in Indian theatres on September 11, 2026. It is directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn under KVN Productions and Thespian Films.
The big question is whether this star reunion actually delivers a gripping thriller or whether the film's long runtime and uneven screenplay hold it back.
IMDB Rating: 4.8/10
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Haiwaan Story and Plot
Haiwaan follows Shyam Rane, played by Saif Ali Khan, a visually impaired maintenance manager working in an upscale residential society in Mumbai. His lack of eyesight does not prevent him from understanding his surroundings. His hearing, sense of smell and ability to recognize people through small physical details make him unusually perceptive.
Shyam has a close relationship with retired Judge Pradhan, played by Boman Irani. The judge carries a painful secret connected to Parshuram, played by Akshay Kumar.
Parshuram is a dangerous man driven by revenge. His past and his connection with the judge gradually become central to the murder mystery. When the judge is killed, Shyam finds himself pulled into a dangerous situation and becomes connected to a young girl whom Parshuram is pursuing.
From there, the film develops into a cat-and-mouse chase involving Shyam, Parshuram and the police. The story also gives Shyam a personal responsibility outside the main mystery, including his family's financial concerns and his sister's upcoming marriage.
The basic premise is strong because the protagonist cannot rely on eyesight, yet the film turns his other senses into important tools. However, Haiwaan spends a considerable amount of time setting up its characters and backstory, which affects the pace.
Spoiler-free verdict on the story: The central idea is interesting, but the execution is not consistently as sharp as the premise suggests.
Cast and Characters
Saif Ali Khan as Shyam Rane
Saif Ali Khan plays the visually impaired Shyam, the film's central character. Shyam is not presented as a helpless man. His martial-arts training and heightened senses make him capable of defending himself and understanding situations that others may miss.
The role requires Saif to communicate a lot through body language and controlled reactions, making his performance one of the more important elements of the movie.
Akshay Kumar as Parshuram
Akshay Kumar takes on a darker character than his usual mainstream comic or action roles. Parshuram is a revenge-driven antagonist whose presence gives the film its threatening atmosphere.
His character is intentionally unsettling, and Akshay gets several opportunities to move away from his familiar heroic image.
Boman Irani as Judge Pradhan
Boman Irani plays retired Judge Pradhan, an important figure in Shyam's life and a person connected to Parshuram's troubled past.
His character is essential to the mystery because information about the judge's past gradually pushes the main conflict forward.
Saiyami Kher as Inspector Varsha
Saiyami Kher plays Inspector Varsha, bringing the police investigation into the central storyline. Her character helps connect the personal conflict between Shyam and Parshuram with the wider investigation.
Shriya Pilgaonkar as Naina
Shriya Pilgaonkar appears as Naina in an important supporting role. She becomes part of the story surrounding Shyam and the people caught in the dangerous chain of events.
The supporting cast also includes Sharib Hashmi, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani and Mohanlal in a special appearance.
Haiwaan Acting and Performances
The strongest reason to watch Haiwaan is arguably its lead cast.
Saif Ali Khan gets a physically and emotionally different role. The character's visual impairment means that the performance depends heavily on controlled movement, listening and reaction rather than conventional heroic body language. Reviews have differed on how convincing that portrayal is, but several critics have still highlighted Saif's performance as one of the film's positives.
Akshay Kumar clearly enjoys playing against type. Parshuram is not designed as a conventional Bollywood villain, and the actor brings an aggressive, unpredictable quality to the role.
Boman Irani and Sharib Hashmi provide useful support, while the ensemble keeps the police and mystery portions moving.
The problem is that good individual performances cannot completely solve an uneven screenplay. The film has moments where the actors create genuine tension, followed by stretches where the writing becomes less convincing.
Direction and Screenplay
Priyadarshan directs Haiwaan as a dark thriller rather than treating it like a conventional Akshay Kumar commercial action film.
That change in tone is welcome. The movie is more interested in suspense, revenge and psychological conflict than in constant heroic action.
The screenplay is credited to Priyadarshan, Abilash Nair and Rohan Shankar, with Rohan Shankar also credited for dialogues.
The major weakness is pacing.
Several reviews have pointed out that the film takes too long to become genuinely thrilling. India Today rated it 2.5/5 and described the pacing as a major problem, while The Times of India also gave it 2.5/5 and felt the long runtime stretched the premise.
NDTV was somewhat more positive, giving the film 3/5 and appreciating Priyadarshan's dark treatment of the cat-and-mouse thriller.
So, the direction has confidence, but the screenplay does not always maintain the same level of tension.
Is Haiwaan a Remake of Oppam?
One of the most discussed aspects of Haiwaan is its connection to Priyadarshan's 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, which starred Mohanlal.
Several reviews describe Haiwaan as a Hindi adaptation or remake of Oppam, and the similarities in the central setup are obvious. NDTV, Indian Express and other reviews have directly discussed the connection.
At the same time, reports before release quoted Priyadarshan as saying that Haiwaan should not simply be treated as a straightforward remake.
For viewers who have already watched Oppam, this familiarity may reduce some of the mystery. For those coming to Haiwaan without knowing the Malayalam film, the story can still work as a standalone crime thriller.
Genre and Themes
Haiwaan combines several genres:
- Crime thriller
- Action
- Mystery
- Drama
- Revenge thriller
At its core, the movie explores revenge, guilt, justice and the consequences of past decisions.
Another interesting theme is the idea that physical limitations do not necessarily determine a person's ability to survive. Shyam's blindness becomes both a vulnerability and an unusual strength because he has developed other senses to an extraordinary level.
The film also plays with the traditional idea of good versus evil. Parshuram's violent actions are connected to events from his past, although that does not excuse his methods.
Music, Cinematography and Visuals
The technical presentation is designed to support the film's darker mood.
Divakar Mani is credited as the cinematographer, while Sabu Cyril is the production designer. Pritam handles the music and Ronnie Raphael is credited for the background score. Aiyappan Nair M.S. is the editor.
The film uses Mumbai's urban spaces and upscale residential locations to create a contrast between Shyam's ordinary working life and the increasingly dangerous world surrounding him.
However, the music has received criticism. Bollywood Hungama specifically pointed to weak songs along with the disjointed screenplay and underwhelming climax.
Haiwaan Release Date and Movie Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Movie | Haiwaan |
| Release Year | 2026 |
| Release Date | September 11, 2026 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Country | India |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Thriller, Drama |
| Director | Priyadarshan |
| Screenplay | Priyadarshan, Abilash Nair, Rohan Shankar |
| Dialogues | Rohan Shankar |
| Production | KVN Productions, Thespian Films |
| Producers | Venkat K. Narayana, Shailaja Desai Fenn |
| Main Cast | Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Sharib Hashmi, Rajpal Yadav, Asrani, Mohanlal |
| Runtime | Approximately 2 hours 44 minutes |
| Certification | U/A 16+ |
| Music | Pritam Chakraborty |
| Cinematography | Divakar Mani |
| Production Design | Sabu Cyril |
| Editor | Aiyappan Nair M.S. |
| Theatrical Distributor | Phars Film |
The runtime is listed around 2 hours 44 minutes by major movie listings, although some databases show slightly different figures.
Haiwaan Trailer Review
The official Haiwaan trailer was released on August 25, 2026 and immediately established the movie's darker tone.
Instead of presenting Akshay Kumar as the traditional action hero, the trailer focuses on his dangerous Parshuram persona. Saif Ali Khan's Shyam is shown navigating the world without sight while trying to survive the growing threat around him.
The trailer also emphasizes the central chase between the two characters, along with police investigation and several action sequences.
The biggest attraction of the trailer is the contrast between the two leads. Saif's restrained character is placed against Akshay's more intimidating presence, making their confrontation the main selling point.
The trailer succeeds in creating curiosity, although the final movie's slower portions mean that its pace is not maintained throughout.
Haiwaan OTT Release: Where Can You Watch It Online?
The theatrical release of Haiwaan took place on September 11, 2026.
SonyLIV has been reported as the film's post-theatrical streaming partner, but the exact OTT premiere date has not been officially announced. Therefore, viewers should not treat unofficial October streaming dates as confirmed information.
JustWatch currently does not list an online streaming offer for Haiwaan in India and shows theatrical availability instead.
So, at present:
OTT Platform: SonyLIV
OTT Release Date: Not officially announced
Current Status: Theatrical release / OTT date awaited
What Works in Haiwaan?
1. Akshay Kumar's darker role
Seeing Akshay Kumar in a threatening negative role is one of the movie's biggest attractions. The character gives him a chance to move away from his familiar heroic image.
2. Saif Ali Khan's unusual protagonist
A visually impaired protagonist with heightened senses is an interesting choice for a mainstream Hindi thriller. It gives the story a different way of creating suspense.
3. Priyadarshan's thriller setup
The director knows how to build suspense around ordinary spaces, hidden information and character conflicts. The darker atmosphere is one of the movie's strengths.
4. Strong supporting cast
Boman Irani, Sharib Hashmi, Saiyami Kher and the other supporting actors add weight to the investigation and emotional portions.
5. The lead pairing
The reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan remains a major reason for audiences to check out the movie.
What May Not Work?
1. Slow first half
The biggest criticism from several reviews is the pacing. The film takes time to reach the intensity promised by its premise.
2. Long runtime
At around 2 hours 44 minutes, Haiwaan asks for considerable patience. Some scenes could have been tighter.
3. Uneven screenplay
The movie moves between thriller, action, humour and emotional drama. At times these elements complement each other, but at other points the tonal shifts weaken the tension.
4. Familiarity for Oppam viewers
Those who know Oppam may find several story elements familiar. That can reduce the surprise factor.
5. Climax does not fully deliver
Some critics felt that the conclusion does not provide the payoff expected from the buildup. Bollywood Hungama specifically criticized the climax as underwhelming.
Who Should Watch Haiwaan?
Haiwaan may work best for viewers who enjoy:
- Dark Bollywood crime thrillers
- Akshay Kumar in unconventional roles
- Saif Ali Khan's dramatic performances
- Priyadarshan's movies
- Murder mysteries and revenge stories
- Cat-and-mouse thrillers
- Hindi adaptations of South Indian films
If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with constant twists, however, the film's slower sections may test your patience.
Haiwaan Movie Review 2026: Final Verdict
Haiwaan has a strong foundation. A visually impaired protagonist, a dangerous antagonist, a murder mystery, Priyadarshan behind the camera and the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are all ingredients that should have produced a much sharper thriller.
The movie does get several things right. Akshay's darker performance is interesting, Saif brings seriousness to an unusual role, and the central conflict has enough material to keep the story moving.
But the screenplay is not consistently tight. The first half takes too long to build momentum, the runtime feels stretched, and the mixture of humour, drama and thriller elements does not always blend smoothly. Critics have largely landed between 2 and 3 stars, reflecting a film with worthwhile performances and an intriguing premise but noticeable execution problems.
For me, Haiwaan is a one-time watch rather than a must-watch thriller. Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan fans have enough reason to give it a chance, but viewers expecting a tightly constructed edge-of-the-seat mystery may come away wanting more.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5 ⭐
Frequently Asked Questions About Haiwaan
1. What is the release date of Haiwaan?
Haiwaan was released in Indian theatres on September 11, 2026.
2. Who directed Haiwaan?
Haiwaan is directed by Priyadarshan, who also handled the screenplay alongside Abilash Nair and Rohan Shankar.
3. Who plays the lead roles in Haiwaan?
Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar play the two central characters. Saif plays Shyam Rane, while Akshay plays Parshuram.
4. What is Haiwaan about?
The film follows visually impaired maintenance manager Shyam Rane, who becomes involved in a murder case and a dangerous conflict with revenge-driven killer Parshuram while trying to protect a young girl.
5. Is Haiwaan based on a true story?
No. Haiwaan is a fictional crime thriller. It is widely described by critics as an adaptation/remake of Priyadarshan's 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, rather than a true-story film.
6. Is Haiwaan a remake of Oppam?
Haiwaan has been widely discussed as a Hindi adaptation of Oppam, with major similarities in its central premise and characters. However, Priyadarshan has also pushed back against describing the film simply as a conventional remake.
7. Where can I watch Haiwaan online?
SonyLIV has been reported as the post-theatrical streaming partner, but the official OTT premiere date has not yet been announced.
8. What is the runtime of Haiwaan?
The movie is approximately 2 hours 44 minutes long according to major listings.
9. What is the rating of Haiwaan?
This article's editorial rating is 2.5/5. Published critics have given the film different ratings, including 2/5, 2.5/5 and 3/5, so there is no single universal critic score.
10. Is Haiwaan worth watching?
If you enjoy Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, dark crime thrillers and Priyadarshan's filmmaking, Haiwaan is worth considering for a one-time theatrical or eventual OTT watch. However, viewers expecting a consistently fast and tightly written thriller should keep their expectations moderate.