Haiwaan, the Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan starrer directed by Priyadarshan, opened to a disappointing Rs 3 crore net on its first day in India on September 11, 2026. The film faced fierce competition from the low-budget devotional drama Hanuman Ansh, which was in its 36th day of release and earned Rs 10.50 crore on the same day.
The contrast in box office performance has been stark. Hanuman Ansh, made on a reported budget of Rs 2 crore, has crossed the Rs 200 crore mark in India, while Haiwaan, with a reported budget of Rs 70-100 crore, struggled to cross Rs 10 crore in its first week.
Haiwaan’s Struggling Run
Haiwaan collected Rs 2.50 crore on Day 1, Rs 2.25 crore on Day 2, and Rs 1.75 crore on Day 3, bringing its first weekend total to Rs 5.45 crore. By the end of its first week, the film had earned just Rs 8.75 crore nett, according to trade tracker Sacnilk.
In its second week, the film collapsed further. On its second Saturday, it collected only Rs 1 lakh, ending its theatrical run under Rs 10 crore net. The film recorded around 11 percent occupancy across 7,224 shows on its opening day.
Trade analysts have labeled Haiwaan a major disaster. One report noted it might be considered Akshay Kumar’s biggest flop, failing to even touch the Rs 10 crore mark against a budget of Rs 130 crore. Social media users called it a ‘disaster on arrival’ and another addition to Akshay Kumar’s ‘flop library’.
Critical Reception
Reviews for Haiwaan were largely negative. The Indian Express wrote that the film is ‘more miss than hit, more uff uff than ole ole’. Pinkvilla gave it 2.5 out of 5, noting a ‘slow paced with predictable screenplay’. Filmfare rated it 3 out of 5.
Bollywood Hungama stated that the film ‘delivers strong performances and face-offs but is held back by a disjointed screenplay, weak songs and a flat climax’. The review added that the film ‘rests on Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar’s performances, a few engaging face-offs and strong technical values’.
Haiwaan is an official remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam film Oppam. Saif Ali Khan plays a visually impaired man named Shyam, while Akshay Kumar plays the antagonist Parshuram. The film marks the actors’ reunion after 17 years, since 2008’s Tashan.
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Hanuman Ansh’s Unprecedented Success
Meanwhile, Hanuman Ansh continues to break records. Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, the film is based on the life of Neem Karoli Baba. It opened on August 7 with just Rs 10 lakh on its first day and Rs 1.08 crore in its first week.
Positive word of mouth drove a dramatic turnaround. By its fourth week, the film had earned Rs 61 crore. On its 36th day, it earned Rs 10.50 crore, surpassing Haiwaan’s opening day by nearly 170 percent. Its India gross now stands at around Rs 205.15 crore, with a net collection of Rs 173.63 crore.
The film has been described as the most profitable Indian film of all time in terms of return on investment. Producer Anupriya Nagar told IANS that the film’s performance is ‘nothing short of a miracle’.
Director Vishal Chaturvedi told NDTV: ‘I feel Maharaj Ji’s name has tremendous power and influence. There was another film that came out two months before ours, which unfortunately did not work at the box office. Apart from that, two more projects have been announced. There is tremendous interest among people in Maharaj Ji’s personality and life, so that has definitely played a very big role. There is absolutely no doubt about that.’
Global Release and Sequel
Hanuman Ansh had a global release on September 11 through Hombale Films’ overseas distribution arm, Hombale Overseas, in collaboration with Phars Film. The production house stated: ‘The spiritual journey of Maharaj-ji reaches the world, as @hanumanansh arrives worldwide on September 11, 2026.’
A sequel is already in development. Director Chaturvedi confirmed that the next film will explore more of Neem Karoli Baba’s life, moving through Firozabad, Agra, and Mathura. The project was conceived as part of a larger trilogy from the beginning. There has been speculation about possible celebrity appearances in the sequel, including Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, though their involvement has not been officially confirmed.
As of September 20, 2026, Haiwaan has earned approximately Rs 9.87 crore net in nine days and is expected to finish its theatrical run soon. Hanuman Ansh remains in theatres and continues to draw audiences in its sixth week.