Haiwaan Review: Akshay-Saif Duo Deserves A Better Film

A quiet lift, a hidden secret, and a man who can sense danger without seeing it. Haiwaan begins by placing its characters inside a situation where every sound, movement, and silence seems to matter. The tension feels promising at first, specifically when Shyam Rane finds himself pulled into a dangerous situation involving a schoolgirl and a man with a score to settle. But as the story moves forward, its weaknesses start showing. What looks like a dark cat-and-mouse thriller gradually takes a different turn, leaving the big question for viewers: can the Haiwaan movie make its central conflict work? 

All About Haiwaan Film 2026

What Is Haiwaan Really About?

At its core, the Haiwaan movie follows Shyam Rane, played by Saif Ali Khan, a congenitally blind man who knows the surroundings of his workplace almost entirely through his other senses. His world changes when he becomes an unlikely witness to a murder.

The other side of the story belongs to Parshuram Gokhale, played by Akshay Kumar. He comes out of jail and begins a killing spree after being imprisoned for 7 years for a crime he did not commit. His anger is directed towards the law, including the judge who sentenced him. The judge, Boman Irani’s Judge Pradhan, has a daughter whose existence has been kept away from the world. Shyam knows about her. Once Parshuram discovers the girl’s identity and whereabouts, the situation turns into a fight for survival.

The basic setup works. A blind man facing a dangerous killer naturally creates tension. But the central twist is too easy to anticipate, and several unnecessary incidents and subplots make the screenplay feel overloaded.

Who Makes Up The Cast Of Haiwaan?

The Haiwaan movie cast brings together a strong mix of familiar performers, with Saif & Akshay at the centre:- 

• Saif Ali Khan as Shyam Rane: His strongest quality is consistency. His body language, movement, and use of his senses make the visually impaired character feel believable across the film.
• Akshay Kumar as Parshuram Gokhale: The role demands menace, but the writing and dialogues hold him back. His performance might feel like it is trying too hard, and Parshuram never becomes the frightening antagonist the story requires.
• Boman Irani as Judge Pradhan: He provides decent support and introduces an important part of the story, but his character does not get enough room.
• Saiyami Kher as Inspector Varsha Joshi: A capable police presence who joins Shyam, although the character could have been used more effectively.
• Shriya Pilgaonkar as Naina: She remains largely part of the supporting track.
• Sharib Hashmi & Rajesh Sharma: Both add dependable performances to the proceedings.
• Asrani as Hussein: His final screen appearance brings some lighter moments through the security guard’s memory problems.
• Mohanlal: His brief cameo as Jayaraman connects the film to the original Malayalam story but contributes little to the Hindi version.

The cast of Haiwaan film is therefore not the problem. The writing is.

What Works & What Falls Short In Haiwaan?

There are flashes of the thriller that Haiwaan could have been. A few face-offs between Shyam and Parshuram are engaging, and the film occasionally creates the right atmosphere.

The biggest disappointment is that Haiwaan movie had the ingredients for something much better. The first half gives enough reason to expect a stronger second half. Instead, the post-interval portions lose focus. The humour is particularly troublesome. In a serious thriller, jokes around visual impairment repeatedly interrupt the mood.

A line such as “Who saw the corpse first?” is meant to create humour, but instead feels dated and uncomfortable. The film also stretches its premise for too long. At 164.07 minutes, the runtime becomes noticeable, especially when the story begins circling around the same conflict.

Why Does Haiwaan Feel Like A Missed Opportunity?

The cast is not the main problem; the screenplay is. Haiwaan is a remake of Priyadarshan’s own 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, but the film was presented as something that would retain the soul of the original while changing other elements. From the critic’s point of view, that promise makes the similarities even more frustrating because much of the story feels extremely close to the source.

A remake should ideally improve what did not work earlier or remove unnecessary portions. Here, additional incidents and fillers make the film feel longer without making the central story stronger.

How Are The Direction, Cinematography & Music?

Priyadarshan brings his same mix of suspense, humour, and larger-than-life moments to Haiwaan Film 2026. There are scenes where his sense of atmosphere works well, particularly during the hide-and-seek portions involving Shyam & Parshuram.

The cinematography is one of the film’s better aspects. Certain sequences create the required tension and make Shyam’s sensory world interesting.

The music, however, leaves little lasting impression. Pritam composed the soundtrack, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, while Ronnie Raphael handled the background score. Songs such as “Mera Hero Hai Woh,” “Rangiyara,” and “Main Toh Nahi Haiwaan” are part of the film, but the music does not become a memorable strength.

When Did Haiwaan Release And What Makes It A Remake Issue?

The Haiwaan release date was 11 September 2026. Priyadarshan directed the Hindi film after making the original Malayalam film Oppam in 2016.

That comparison matters because the story remains very close to the original. The expectation around a remake is simple: either bring something fresh or improve what already exists. Here, the changes often feel like additions rather than improvements.

The film also carries familiar Priyadarshan touches, including recurring performers such as Manoj Joshi, Rajpal Yadav and Asrani. Their presence is not inherently a problem, but in a serious thriller, the repeated use of broad comedy makes the tonal balance even harder to maintain.

How Will Haiwaan Perform At The Box Office?

The Haiwaan box office journey looks challenging from the film itself. The Akshay Kumar & Saif Ali Khan reunion creates curiosity, but star power alone cannot solve a weak screenplay.

The Haiwaan day wise collection will depend on how audiences react after watching the movie. For viewers expecting a sharp thriller, the predictable twist, stretched second half, and weak climax may work against repeat interest. 

The Khiladi duo’s presence is undoubtedly the film’s biggest attraction. Saif gets the stronger character and makes the most of it, while Akshay brings his established screen presence to the antagonist. It only makes the film’s missed potential more noticeable

Where Does Haiwaan Stand As A Thriller?

Haiwaan is not without merits. A handful of sequences create genuine excitement, the cinematography works in places, and Saif’s performance gives the film a solid centre.

But the writing repeatedly pulls it down. The climax becomes unnecessarily convoluted instead of delivering a clean payoff. The story keeps stretching when it is moving towards its conclusion. Even the brief Mohanlal appearance feels more like a connection to the original than something that meaningfully changes this film.

Our verdict: 2/5 stars

For viewers who enjoy watching Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan together, the film may offer a few worthwhile moments. Those looking for a tightly written crime thriller, however, may find Haiwaan underwhelming.

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