Haiwaan Movie Review 2026: A Gripping Akshay-Saif Thriller That Earns Its Suspense

Nearly two decades after they last shared screen space, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan reunite for Haiwaan, Priyadarshan’s Hindi adaptation of his own 2016 Malayalam hit Oppam. Releasing in theatres on 11 September 2026, the film pits a visually impaired protagonist against a relentless stalker-killer, promising a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. With a stacked ensemble cast, atmospheric production design, and two heavyweight stars playing sharply against type, Haiwaan sets out to deliver a tense, star-powered crime thriller for audiences hungry for a solid weekend watch.

Haiwaan brings together Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in a tense battle of wits, with Saif’s blind maintenance worker Shyam sensing the presence of Akshay’s vengeful killer Parshuram without ever seeing his face. Backed by Priyadarshan’s atmospheric direction, Divakar Mani’s moody cinematography, and a supporting cast that includes Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher, Sharib Hashmi and Asrani, the film leans into its hide-and-seek premise with committed performances and a handful of genuinely effective suspense sequences. It’s a film that asks for patience through its stretched-out middle portion but rewards viewers with intriguing character dynamics, a pulsating score, and a climax that goes all out for spectacle. For fans of star-driven thrillers built on contrasting energies and a game of survival, Haiwaan is a theatrical experience worth catching on the big screen.

Cast & Crew

Role	Name
Director	Priyadarshan
Screenplay	Priyadarshan, Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair
Dialogues	Rohan Shankar
Based On	Oppam (2016, Malayalam) by Priyadarshan
Cinematography	Divakar Mani
Editor	M. S. Aiyyappan Nair
Music (Songs)	Pritam Chakraborty
Background Score	Ronnie Raphael
Production Design	Sabu Cyril
Producers	Venkat K. Narayana, Shailaja Desai Fenn
Production Banners	KVN Productions, Thespian Films
Saif Ali Khan	Shyam Rane
Akshay Kumar	Parshuram
Boman Irani	The Retired Judge
Saiyami Kher	Inspector Varsha Joshi
Sharib Hashmi	Sanjay Shinde
Shriya Pilgaonkar	Supporting Role
Asrani	Hussain
Rajpal Yadav	Supporting Role
Rajesh Sharma	Supporting Role
Manoj Joshi	Supporting Role
Pahal Chaudhary	Supporting Role
Mohanlal	Special Appearance
Runtime	2 hrs 44 mins
Certificate	UA
Genre	Crime, Thriller, Action
Release Date	11 September 2026
Language	Hindi

Plot Summary

After the sudden death of a retired judge (Boman Irani), his devoted aide Shyam Rane (Saif Ali Khan) — a visually impaired maintenance worker — begins to suspect foul play. Though he cannot see, Shyam senses the presence of an intruder in the house: Parshuram (Akshay Kumar), a man driven by rage and an old score to settle with the judge’s daughter. As Parshuram closes in on his next target, Shyam must rely on instinct, sound, and sheer will to outmanoeuvre a killer who is always one step ahead — turning the film into a tense hide-and-seek thriller where survival depends on senses sharper than sight.

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Performances

Saif Ali Khan brings a quiet, understated sincerity to Shyam, crafting a character built on nonchalance rather than melodrama. His portrayal of a blind man navigating danger through sound and instinct is a genuinely interesting choice, and Saif commits fully to the physicality the role demands — from his guitar-strumming calm to his unshakeable resolve when danger closes in.

Akshay Kumar goes all in as Parshuram, playing the film’s antagonist with unrelenting intensity. He commands the screen in every confrontation, bringing a theatrical, larger-than-life energy to the stalker role that makes him a formidable, unmissable presence throughout.

Boman Irani, even in a limited window of screen time, lends the retired judge the gravitas and quiet dignity that sets the film’s central conflict in motion — his presence is felt long after his character exits the story.

Saiyami Kher brings a grounded, no-nonsense energy to Inspector Varsha Joshi, holding her own in a genre often dominated by its leading men, and adds credibility to the investigative track.

Sharib Hashmi, as Sanjay Shinde, delivers his usual reliable, easy charm, providing some of the film’s more grounded, relatable moments alongside Kher.

Shriya Pilgaonkar rounds out the cast with a composed performance that adds emotional weight to the judge’s family track.

Asrani, playing Hussain, brings his trademark warmth and comic timing to the proceedings, offering the film moments of levity amid the tension.

Rajpal Yadav, Rajesh Sharma, Manoj Joshi and Pahal Chaudhary all contribute solid supporting turns that flesh out the film’s world, while Mohanlal’s special appearance — a nod to the original Oppam — is a delightful treat for longtime fans of Priyadarshan’s filmography.

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Technical Craft

Direction

Priyadarshan, revisiting his own material nearly a decade later, brings his signature command over tension and set-pieces to Haiwaan, staging the film’s hide-and-seek sequences between Shyam and Parshuram with a clear sense of geography and stakes.

Cinematography

Divakar Mani’s camerawork leans into shadow, silhouette and confined spaces to mirror Shyam’s sensory experience of the world, lending several sequences a moody, immersive quality that suits the thriller’s premise.

Music

Pritam Chakraborty’s soundtrack complements the film’s emotional beats, while Ronnie Raphael’s background score amplifies the tension during the film’s chase and confrontation sequences.

Editing

M. S. Aiyyappan Nair’s cuts keep the film’s action sequences crisp, particularly in the second-half stretch where the pacing tightens and the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the leads picks up momentum.

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Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths:

• The long-awaited reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after 18 years is a genuine draw for audiences
• Effective hide-and-seek action sequences between the two leads
• Saif Ali Khan’s restrained, distinctive portrayal of a blind protagonist
• Akshay Kumar’s high-intensity, committed antagonist performance
• A supporting cast that adds texture and warmth to the narrative
• The film gathers pace and grip in its second half

Weaknesses:

• The 2 hour 44 minute runtime feels generous for the premise and could have been tightened
• The mystery elements are fairly easy to anticipate, leaving less room for surprise
• The film takes time to find its rhythm in the first half

Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5/5 Stars

Haiwaan is a star-powered thriller that leans on the crackling reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan to deliver an engaging watch. While the film takes its time to build momentum, its committed performances, atmospheric craft, and effective suspense sequences make it a satisfying theatrical outing for thriller fans.

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