Director – Priyadarshan
Cast – Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Mohanlal, Asrani, Sharib Hashmi
Duration – 2h44m
Rating – 4
Some screen reunions are driven by nostalgia, while others find a reason to feel relevant all over again. Haiwaan belongs to the second category. Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan return to the screen together after 18 years, but Priyadarshan does not use their reunion merely as a celebration of their past pairing. Instead, he places them on opposite sides of a tense psychological battle. Akshay plays Parshuram, a dangerous and unpredictable man, while Saif takes on the role of Shyam, a visually impaired man who has to rely on his instincts, intelligence and resilience when he finds himself trapped in an increasingly threatening situation. The result is a thriller whose biggest strength comes from the contrast between its two leading performances.
Akshay Kumar gets one of the most interesting negative roles of his career in Parshuram. The character could easily have been turned into the usual loud and aggressive Bollywood villain, but both Priyadarshan and Akshay take a more controlled route. Parshuram does not need to constantly raise his voice to establish his authority. There is a quiet confidence in him, and that calmness makes his unpredictable nature even more unsettling. Akshay uses his expressions, body language and measured intensity to suggest that there is always something more dangerous waiting beneath the surface. He rarely gives away exactly what Parshuram is thinking, and that uncertainty works strongly in the film’s favour.
Saif Ali Khan is equally effective, though his performance operates from a completely different space. Shyam is visually impaired, and the film could easily have leaned too heavily on that aspect of the character. Saif wisely avoids doing so. He does not exaggerate the blindness or turn it into a theatrical performance designed only to generate sympathy. Instead, he allows Shyam to remain vulnerable while also showing his intelligence and determination. His heightened instincts become essential as the danger around him grows. Saif’s restraint gives the character credibility and makes his eventual confrontations with Parshuram more engaging.
The biggest attraction of Haiwaan is naturally the face-off between Akshay and Saif. Their scenes work because the conflict is not simply physical. Parshuram has confidence, physical menace and an ability to dominate situations, whereas Shyam has to depend on observation, intelligence and instinct. This creates a genuine psychological game between the two. The audience is not merely waiting for the next fight; there is also curiosity about who will understand the other man’s strategy first. That difference gives their encounters texture and prevents the film from becoming a predictable hero-versus-villain battle.
Paahal Chaudhary comes as one of the film’s biggest surprises. The young actor delivers a remarkably assured performance and brings sincerity to a character that could easily have been reduced to a plot function. There is vulnerability in her portrayal, but she never pushes it too far. Her presence adds emotional stakes to the thriller and makes the audience more invested in what happens to the characters. Sharing screen space with actors of the stature of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan is no small task, yet Paahal manages to make an impression of her own and becomes an important emotional centre of the story.
The supporting cast also contributes to the film’s overall strength. Saiyami Kher, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Boman Irani bring conviction and sincerity to their respective roles. Sharib Hashmi fits naturally into the investigative portions of the narrative as the police officer, adding another layer to the unfolding situation. Veteran actor Asrani’s presence is particularly heartwarming. He brings his familiar warmth to the role, while the fact that this is his final on-screen appearance inevitably gives his scenes an additional emotional significance.
Priyadarshan’s experience is visible in the way he handles the different elements of the film. With Haiwaan marking his 98th film, the filmmaker once again shows his understanding of commercial storytelling. The movie moves between suspense, drama and emotion while keeping its central conflict clear. At 2 hours and 44 minutes, the runtime is certainly substantial, but the film does not constantly feel as though it is stretching its material unnecessarily. The progression of the thriller, the performances and the confrontational sequences provide enough momentum to keep the narrative moving.
The background score plays an important role in sustaining that momentum. A thriller needs an atmosphere that keeps the audience anticipating what might happen next, and the BGM consistently works towards that goal. It becomes particularly effective during the confrontations between Parshuram and Shyam, adding tension without overpowering the actors. The soundscape works in support of Priyadarshan’s direction rather than trying to become the centre of attention.
Pritam’s music has also been integrated into the narrative with some thought. Mere Hero Hai Woh adds an emotional dimension to the story, while Rangiyaara works well during the travel portions. The songs give the film moments to breathe without feeling completely detached from the storytelling. They complement the mood instead of appearing as interruptions inserted simply to fulfil the requirements of a commercial entertainer.
Of course, audiences familiar with Priyadarshan’s Malayalam thriller Oppam will immediately recognise the source material behind Haiwaan. The Hindi adaptation does not hide that connection, but it also brings its own staging and commercial flavour to the story. The performances provide fresh energy, while Priyadarshan’s direction ensures that the film remains accessible to audiences approaching it as a Hindi theatrical thriller. Mohanlal’s special appearance, reprising his connection to the original, is another welcome touch and gives fans of Oppam an added reason to enjoy the adaptation.
What ultimately makes Haiwaan work is the clarity of its central conflict and the conviction with which the performers bring it alive. Akshay Kumar gives Parshuram a quiet but disturbing menace, Saif Ali Khan makes Shyam vulnerable without ever reducing him to helplessness, and Paahal Chaudhary emerges as a genuine revelation. The supporting cast fills out the world effectively, while the background score keeps the suspense alive. Priyadarshan, meanwhile, knows when to push the drama and when to allow the performances to take over.
Produced by KVN Productions and Thespian Films, Haiwaan may be adapted from familiar material, but it does not feel like a film surviving only on the reputation of its source or the novelty of an 18-year reunion. Its strongest moments come from the actors, particularly when Akshay and Saif are placed directly against each other. With its combination of suspense, emotion, drama and mainstream entertainment, the film delivers a satisfying big-screen experience. For viewers looking for a thriller powered by strong performances and a compelling central conflict, Haiwaan has enough going for it to make the theatrical outing worthwhile. The Akshay-Saif confrontation remains its beating heart, and it is also the reason this long-awaited reunion feels genuinely worth watching.
