Haiwaan And Hanuman Ansh Battle At Box Office As Download Demand Rises

The Hindi film Haiwaan, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, had a slow start at the box office upon its release on September 11, 2026. The film earned Rs 3 crore net in India on its opening day, while the devotional drama Hanuman Ansh, which released on August 7, 2026, continued its strong run in its sixth week.

According to trade tracker Sacnilk, Hanuman Ansh earned Rs 10.50 crore net on its 36th day, which is 110% more than Haiwaan’s opening day collection. Haiwaan is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, directed by Priyadarshan, and marked the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after 17 years.

The contrasting box office performances have coincided with a rise in online searches for downloading both films. Several unauthorized websites have listed HD prints of Hanuman Ansh and Haiwaan, though no official digital release has been announced for either title.

Hanuman Ansh Continues Box Office Dominance

Hanuman Ansh, made on a reported budget of Rs 2 crore, has become one of the biggest box office surprises of 2026. The film opened with just Rs 10 lakh on its first day but gained momentum through word of mouth. Its fourth week alone contributed around Rs 61 crore.

By its 45th day, Hanuman Ansh had earned Rs 321.05 crore gross in India and Rs 347.05 crore worldwide. The film added 1,200 screens in its seventh week as new releases underperformed. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh described it as ‘the biggest success story of 2026’.

Directed by Vishal Chaturvedi, Hanuman Ansh stars Shobhinaw Satyaa as Neem Karoli Baba, alongside Chandan Anand, Vihaan Shedge, Purnima Tiwari, Anil Rastogi and Gulshan Pandey. The film follows a grieving boy who embarks on a spiritual quest across North India after his mother’s death.

Haiwaan Struggles In Opening Week

Haiwaan failed to reach Rs 10 crore in its opening week. The film earned Rs 55 lakh on its seventh day across 2,839 shows, taking its India net total to Rs 9.85 crore. Its worldwide gross stood at Rs 15.11 crore after one week.

The crime thriller features Saif Ali Khan as a visually impaired man who witnesses a murder and must protect a child from a killer. Akshay Kumar plays the psychopath antagonist. The film also stars Saiyami Kher, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Rajpal Yadav, Sharib Hashmi and the late Asrani.

Amid the film’s underwhelming performance, actor Mohit Raj, who plays Albert in Haiwaan, posted an emotional video on Instagram stating that none of his friends had watched the film four days after its release. He said, ‘Haal hi mein release hui Haiwaan jismein Saif Ali Khan aur Akshay Kumar hai, usmein ek choti bhumika meri bhi hai. Main ek baat kehna chahungi. Uss film ko release hue chaar din ho chuke hai, par mere kisi bhi dost ne yeh movie nahi dekhi.’

Celebrity Support For Hanuman Ansh

Actor Varun Dhawan shared a video on Instagram praising Hanuman Ansh after watching it with his mother. He said, ‘I just went with my mom, and it was an amazing experience. Take your parents, children, or friends to the theatres. I highly recommend this film to everyone. No one has asked me to make this video; no phone call came. I just wanted to do this, and since childhood I have had a connection with Hanuman ji. But this is something else. It’s a pure film. I wouldn’t even call it a film; it’s something divine.’

Kangana Ranaut also praised the film and called it a ‘satsang’. Filmmakers Madhur Bhandarkar and Aditya Dhar have voiced their support as well. Hanuman Ansh director Vishal Chaturvedi confirmed that a sequel is in development, with the next film expected to explore more of Neem Karoli Baba’s life.

Digital Release Status

No official OTT release date has been announced for Hanuman Ansh. Producer Ragini Sona dismissed reports of a Rs 100 crore OTT deal, stating that no digital deal is currently in place. An official announcement regarding its digital release will be made later.

Haiwaan’s digital rights have been acquired by Sony Pictures Networks India, and the film will stream on SonyLIV after its theatrical run. The satellite rights have been sold to Sony Max. However, the exact OTT premiere date has not been confirmed.

The original Malayalam film Oppam, on which Haiwaan is based, is currently available to stream on JioHotstar in India.

Latest Box Office Update

As of September 21, 2026, Hanuman Ansh has earned Rs 271.88 crore net in India and Rs 347.05 crore worldwide. The film is nearing the Rs 350 crore mark globally. Haiwaan’s India net total stands at Rs 9.85 crore after its opening week.

Both films remain in theatres. Hanuman Ansh has added 1,200 screens in its seventh week, while Haiwaan is facing tough competition from the devotional drama and the holdover release Mirzapur: The Movie.