Director: Priyadarshan
Rating: ***
Hitting theaters worldwide today, September 11, 2026, Haiwaan marks the much-awaited on-screen reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after 18 years (Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi, Tashan). Directed by master filmmaker Priyadarshan, this 164-minute crime thriller steps far outside the director-actor duo's signature slapstick comedy wheelhouse (Hera Pheri, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Garam Masala).
Adapting Priyadarshan’s hit 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam for a broader pan-Indian canvas under KVN Productions and Thespian Films, the film replaces lighthearted confusion with a relentless, high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between a visually impaired caretaker and a cold-blooded assassin.
“In the Dark, Every Whisper Counts: A Race Against Vengeance”
The Story & Script
The narrative centers on Shyam (Saif Ali Khan), a visually impaired, fiercely perceptive man who works as an elevator operator and trusted caretaker in an upscale apartment complex. Shyam shares a deep, protective bond with retired High Court Judge Pradhan (Boman Irani).
The peace shatters when Judge Pradhan is brutally murdered inside his locked penthouse. Shyam, being present at the scene and relying on his heightened sensory perception, encounters the killer in the dark. However, through a web of circumstantial evidence and corrupt police incompetence led by investigating officer Devika (Saiyami Kher), Shyam himself is framed for the homicide.
The murderer is Parshuram (Akshay Kumar), a calculating, vengeful convict released from prison who holds a deadly vendetta against the late judge and is now hunting down Pradhan’s hidden school-going daughter, Nandini. Forced to break out of police custody, Shyam must use his sharp ears, intuition, and martial instincts to evade the law while staying one step ahead of Parshuram to protect the innocent child.
Direction & Screenplay
Priyadarshan directs with vintage control, demonstrating his formidable grasp over suspense and atmospheric tension (reminiscent of his early dramatic thrillers and Virasat). Adapting the script alongside Rohan Shankar and Abhilash Nair, Priyadarshan enhances the pacing for a Hindi theatrical audience with mass-friendly elevation sequences and tighter dialogue exchanges.
The first half is particularly gripping—meticulously building the world of the apartment complex, establishing Shyam's keen sensory mechanics, and staging a chilling, claustrophobic murder sequence. While the post-interval stretch features a few familiar chase tropes and occasional melodramatic detours, the escalating confrontation inside an isolated, shadowy campus provides an edge-of-the-seat payoff.
Performances
Saif Ali Khan: Saif delivers a career-best dramatic performance as Shyam. Playing a blind protagonist without slipping into caricature requires immense discipline, and Saif nails the body language—the unblinking, unfocused gaze, the reliance on touch, and the sharp acoustic reflexes. He handles both the vulnerable emotional beats with the child and the grounded physical combat with total conviction.
Akshay Kumar: In a bold, refreshing departure from his righteous hero persona, Akshay embraces an out-and-out antagonist role as Parshuram. Cold, unhinged, and physically imposing, he infuses the character with a quiet psychological menace rather than loud theatrical villainy. His transformation into a merciless force of vengeance is electrifying.
Saiyami Kher & Boman Irani: Saiyami brings steely determination and sharp energy as the suspicious cop caught between duty and truth, while Boman Irani lends dignified pathos to his crucial prologue role.
Shriya Pilgaonkar & Sharib Hashmi: Shriya brings warmth and grounded emotional support to the narrative, while Sharib Hashmi provides reliable, authentic character work.
Asrani & Mohanlal: The film carries special emotional resonance as the final screen appearance of veteran comedic legend Asrani, who brings an affectionate, nostalgic presence. To top it off, Malayalam cinema titan Mohanlal makes a thrilling, crowd-pleasing cameo that honors the original source film.
Technical Craft & Background Score
Cinematography: Divakar Mani’s visual design utilizes deep shadows, low-key lighting, and disorienting camera angles to place the audience squarely in Shyam’s sensory world. The transition from the dense urban spaces of Mumbai to the mist-covered, rainy hills adds rich visual texture.
Sound Design & Score: In a thriller where the hero relies on sound to survive, the audio mix is paramount. The sound design is exceptionally layered—amplifying heartbeats, footsteps, ticking clocks, and distant echoes. The background score ratchets up the adrenaline during key stalk-and-slash set-pieces.
Final Verdict
Haiwaan is a taut, atmospheric, and thoroughly engrossing thriller that gives both its powerhouse leads substantial, meaty roles to sink their teeth into. By subverting audience expectations and pitting Saif Ali Khan's empathetic, razor-sharp blind hero against Akshay Kumar's chilling villain, Priyadarshan proves once again that his mastery over cinema extends far beyond comedy.
