Haiwaan, Starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, Hits Theatres on September 11, 2026

Haiwaan, the Hindi-language crime thriller starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, was released in theatres worldwide on September 11, 2026. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, which also was helmed by Priyadarshan and starred Mohanlal.

The film marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan on screen after 17 years. The two actors were last seen together in the 2008 film Tashan.

Cast and Crew

Saif Ali Khan plays Shyam, a visually impaired martial artist and caretaker. Akshay Kumar plays Parshuram, the film’s antagonist, described as a psychopathic killer.

The supporting cast includes Boman Irani, Sharib Hashmi, Saiyami Kher, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Rajesh Sharma, Rajpal Yadav, Manoj Joshi, and Pahal Chaudhary. The film also features a cameo by Mohanlal, the star of the original film Oppam. It marks the final posthumous screen appearance of actor Asrani.

Haiwaan is produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn under KVN Productions and Thespian Films. The film’s music is composed by Pritam.

Certification and Runtime

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) awarded Haiwaan a U/A 16+ certificate on September 8, 2026. The film’s certified runtime is 164.07 minutes, approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes.

The U/A 16+ rating indicates that the film contains mature themes, moderate violence, and intense emotional situations. Viewers below the age of 16 are advised to watch with parental guidance.

Plot and Approach

Haiwaan is a suspense thriller that follows Shyam, a visually impaired man who becomes entangled in a dangerous situation after witnessing a murder. He takes on the responsibility of protecting a child from a relentless killer.

Director Priyadarshan has stated that Haiwaan is not a scene-by-scene recreation of Oppam. He intentionally did not allow Saif Ali Khan to watch the original film to prevent imitation. Priyadarshan said, ‘Saif has no idea what Mohanlal has done. I did not allow it. Also, everyone has their own body language, dialogue delivery and movements. It cannot be imitated.’

The director also noted that casting Akshay Kumar as the antagonist was a deliberate choice to present him in a different role. Priyadarshan said, ‘That’s the difference, because every film should not look the same. So I thought I could use Akshay Kumar in a different way.’

Release and Box Office

Haiwaan was released in cinemas worldwide on September 11, 2026. Advance booking for the film opened on September 9. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, the film recorded a gross of Rs 1.03 crore through advance bookings, with 44,176 tickets sold across 7,368 shows.

On its opening day, Haiwaan earned Rs 2.04 crore net in India. The film was released alongside other theatrical offerings and faced competition at the box office.

The film’s title track, ‘Main Toh Nahi Haiwaan’, was released on September 7, 2026. Composed by Pritam, with lyrics by Kumaar and vocals by Raghav Chaitanya, the track features Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Saiyami Kher.

The official trailer of Haiwaan was unveiled on August 25, 2026. The two-minute-thirty-four-second trailer showcased the film’s dark tone, blending crime, suspense, action, and psychological drama.

Haiwaan is slated for a worldwide theatrical release on September 11, 2026. The film’s release date was announced by KVN Productions on June 27, 2026, through an official poster shared on social media. The production banner also highlighted Priyadarshan’s long filmmaking journey, presenting the film as another ambitious theatrical venture from the veteran director.