Haiwaan is a Hindi action crime thriller directed by Priyadarshan and starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles. The film arrived in theatres on September 11, 2026, and brought the two actors together on screen after several years. With a dark premise, a dangerous antagonist and a visually impaired protagonist caught in a deadly situation, the movie tries to combine suspense, action, drama and occasional comedy.
The biggest attraction of Haiwaan is undoubtedly its lead cast. Akshay Kumar takes on a darker role, while Saif Ali Khan plays Shyam Rane, a visually impaired man who becomes deeply involved in a dangerous situation. The supporting cast includes Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Sharib Hashmi and others. Priyadarshan directs the film, with the story built around crime, revenge and survival.
But does Haiwaan successfully deliver the gripping thriller that its premise promises? Here is our detailed Haiwaan Movie Review, covering the story, performances, direction, screenplay, action, emotional moments, rating and final verdict.
Haiwaan Movie Details
| Category | Details |
| Movie | Haiwaan |
| Release Date | September 11, 2026 |
| Language | Hindi |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller |
| Director | Priyadarshan |
| Lead Cast | Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan |
| Supporting Cast | Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Sharib Hashmi |
| Runtime | Around 2 hours 42–44 minutes |
| Music | Pritam |
| Certification | U/A |
| Theatrical Release | September 11, 2026 |
The available movie listings put the runtime at roughly two hours and forty-plus minutes, while the film is generally classified as an action/crime drama or thriller.
Haiwaan Movie Story
At the centre of Haiwaan is Shyam Rane, played by Saif Ali Khan. Shyam is visually impaired, but his limitations do not prevent him from becoming an important part of a dangerous chain of events.
The story also introduces Parshuram Gokhale, played by Akshay Kumar. Parshuram is a dangerous and unpredictable man whose past is connected to the central conflict of the film.
The situation becomes complicated when a powerful figure and his family find themselves threatened. Shyam becomes connected to the case and is forced into a fight for survival while trying to protect someone caught in the middle of the conflict.
What makes the basic premise interesting is the contrast between the two central characters. One character must rely on his heightened awareness and determination, while the other represents a much more threatening force.
The film therefore creates a cat-and-mouse situation in which survival, revenge and trust become important parts of the story.
We will avoid revealing the major twists here because Haiwaan works better when some of its revelations are experienced while watching the film.
Haiwaan Movie Review: What Works
The strongest part of Haiwaan is its central idea.
A visually impaired protagonist facing a dangerous criminal creates several opportunities for suspense. Instead of depending entirely on conventional action sequences, the film can build tension through sound, movement, surroundings and the character’s ability to understand what is happening around him.
The performances also give the movie some weight.
Key strengths of Haiwaan include:
- Akshay Kumar’s darker screen presence
- Saif Ali Khan’s attempt at a physically and emotionally different character
- An intriguing crime-thriller premise
- Priyadarshan’s experience with suspense and commercial cinema
- Several supporting performances
- A more intense final stretch
- The reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan
Early audience reactions have particularly highlighted the two lead performances and the film’s darker storyline, although reactions to the pacing have not been completely uniform.
Akshay Kumar’s Performance in Haiwaan
Akshay Kumar plays Parshuram Gokhale, a character considerably different from the straightforward heroic roles that audiences often associate with him.
The character is dangerous, unpredictable and driven by revenge. This gives Akshay the opportunity to move away from his usual comic or action-hero image.
His physical presence works well for the role because the character needs to feel threatening even when he is not involved in a major action scene.
Akshay also benefits from the fact that his character is not presented as a simple villain from the beginning. There is a certain mystery around Parshuram, and that makes his presence more interesting.
However, the effectiveness of the character depends heavily on the screenplay. When the writing gives Parshuram enough space, Akshay’s screen presence becomes one of the film’s highlights. When the narrative becomes less focused, the character loses some of that impact.
Overall, Akshay brings the required intensity to the role, even though the character itself could have benefited from deeper writing.
Saif Ali Khan’s Performance in Haiwaan
Saif Ali Khan plays Shyam Rane, a visually impaired character who becomes central to the thriller.
This is one of the more demanding aspects of the film because the performance requires Saif to communicate a character’s awareness through body language, expressions and reactions rather than simply relying on conventional action.
Shyam’s vulnerability is also important. The character is placed in situations where physical limitations can become a major disadvantage.
Saif’s performance has received mixed critical responses. Some viewers have appreciated the intensity and emotional involvement, while some criticism has focused on how convincingly the visual impairment is portrayed.
That difference in opinion makes his performance one of the more interesting aspects to discuss.
For us, Saif’s role works best when the film allows Shyam to remain a human character rather than simply treating his blindness as a plot device.
Supporting Cast Performances
The supporting cast adds depth to the central conflict.
Boman Irani plays an important character connected to the main story, while Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher also contribute to the narrative.
Sharib Hashmi, Rajpal Yadav and other supporting actors provide additional characters around the central conflict. Mohanlal also appears in a special role, adding another point of interest for audiences familiar with Priyadarshan’s work.
The supporting performances are particularly useful because a thriller cannot depend entirely on its two lead actors. The surrounding characters need to make the world of the story feel believable.
In Haiwaan, some supporting performances manage to provide moments of balance when the main storyline becomes too intense.
Haiwaan Direction and Screenplay
Priyadarshan has worked across comedy, drama, action and thriller films, and Haiwaan attempts to bring several of those elements together.
The director understands how to create an atmosphere of danger, particularly when the film concentrates on its central chase and survival elements.
However, the screenplay is not equally strong throughout.
The biggest issue is that the film sometimes tries to balance too many elements at once. The story wants to be a serious crime thriller, but there are also lighter moments and commercial elements.
That mixture can work when the transitions are smooth.
Here, however, the change in tone can occasionally reduce the tension.
Some critics have specifically pointed to inconsistencies in the writing, plot logic and pacing, while other reactions have appreciated the atmosphere and final act.
Haiwaan First Half vs Second Half
The first half spends considerable time establishing the characters and the central situation.
There are moments of suspense, but the film takes time to build its conflict.
This can work for viewers who prefer character development, but those expecting an immediately fast-paced thriller may find parts of the first half slow.
The second half becomes more focused on the central conflict.
As the danger increases, the movie starts to feel more like the thriller it initially promises to be.
First Half
- Character introductions
- Establishment of the conflict
- Background information
- Suspense-building
- Some lighter moments
Second Half
- Greater focus on the chase
- More danger
- Increased emotional stakes
- More action
- Stronger thriller elements
- More important revelations
The final portion has been one of the more positively discussed aspects of the movie, although the journey toward that point may feel longer than necessary.
Action and Thriller Elements in Haiwaan
Haiwaan is not purely an action movie.
Its strongest moments come when the action is connected to the story.
The protagonist’s visual impairment also creates an opportunity to approach suspense differently. The audience is encouraged to pay attention to sounds, movements and the environment.
This helps some sequences feel more personal rather than simply becoming large-scale action scenes.
The film does, however, occasionally lean toward exaggerated commercial moments. Viewers looking for a completely realistic crime thriller may therefore find certain scenes difficult to accept.
For audiences who are comfortable with mainstream Bollywood storytelling, these moments may be easier to overlook.
Does Haiwaan Have Good Comedy?
Comedy is not the main reason to watch Haiwaan, but the film does include lighter moments.
This creates one of the movie’s biggest tonal questions.
A dark thriller needs tension to remain intact. When comic scenes arrive at the wrong point, they can reduce the seriousness of the situation.
Some of the humour works as a break from the tension, but not every comic moment has the same impact.
This is one area where a tighter screenplay could have helped the film.
Haiwaan Climax and Ending
Spoiler warning: We are keeping this section spoiler-free.
The climax is among the stronger portions of Haiwaan because the story finally brings its central conflict to a more intense stage.
The stakes feel higher, the characters are pushed further and the thriller elements become more prominent.
The ending also gives the story a stronger sense of purpose after a relatively uneven journey.
Haiwaan Movie Rating
Our Rating: ⭐ 2.5/5
| Category | Rating |
| Story | 3/5 |
| Screenplay | 2.5/5 |
| Performances | 3/5 |
| Direction | 2.5/5 |
| Action | 3/5 |
| Thriller Elements | 3/5 |
| Entertainment | 2.5/5 |
| Overall | 2.5/5 |
The rating reflects a film with a promising central idea and good performances but an uneven screenplay.
The movie is not without strengths. The Akshay-Saif combination creates curiosity, the premise offers opportunities for suspense, and the final portion is more engaging.
However, the film could have been considerably stronger with a tighter script, better pacing and more consistent handling of its tone.
Is Haiwaan Worth Watching?
Whether Haiwaan is worth watching depends largely on what you expect from it.
You may enjoy Haiwaan if
- You are an Akshay Kumar fan.
- You enjoy Saif Ali Khan’s performances.
- You like crime thrillers.
- You enjoy revenge-based stories.
- You like Priyadarshan’s style of filmmaking.
- You are interested in the Akshay-Saif reunion.
- You prefer commercial thrillers over realistic crime dramas.
You may want to skip it if
- You expect a perfectly logical thriller.
- You dislike long runtimes.
- You prefer realistic crime stories.
- You do not enjoy tonal changes between serious drama and comedy.
- You want a tightly written screenplay from beginning to end.
Haiwaan Final Verdict
Haiwaan has an interesting idea at its core and benefits from the presence of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
The biggest attraction is the unusual central conflict involving a visually impaired protagonist and a dangerous antagonist. This gives the film enough material to create a tense thriller.
Akshay Kumar brings intensity to his darker role, while Saif Ali Khan attempts something different as Shyam. The supporting cast also helps keep the narrative moving.
However, the movie does not always make the best use of its premise.
The screenplay occasionally becomes uneven, the pacing can feel slow and some scenes require the audience to accept exaggerated situations. The combination of thriller, drama, action and comedy does not always feel perfectly balanced.
The film becomes more effective as it moves toward its final act, where the tension becomes stronger.
Final Verdict
Haiwaan is a watchable but uneven thriller that benefits from its lead actors and intriguing premise but is held back by screenplay and pacing issues.
If you are a fan of Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan or Priyadarshan, the film is worth giving a chance. If you are looking for a tightly constructed thriller with consistently logical storytelling, your expectations should be kept moderate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Haiwaan
1. What is Haiwaan about?
Haiwaan is an action crime thriller centred around a dangerous conflict involving a visually impaired man and a threatening antagonist. The story combines crime, revenge, suspense and survival.
2. Who are the lead actors in Haiwaan?
The film stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles. The supporting cast includes Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher and Sharib Hashmi.
3. Who directed Haiwaan?
Haiwaan is directed by Priyadarshan, who has worked across several genres during his long filmmaking career.
4. When was Haiwaan released?
Haiwaan was released in theatres on September 11, 2026.
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Haiwaan Movie Review: Final Rating
Haiwaan – 2.5/5 ⭐
Haiwaan has enough interesting ingredients to make it a one-time watch, particularly for fans of its lead actors. Its strongest moments arrive when the movie focuses on suspense and the central conflict.
However, a more disciplined screenplay and tighter runtime could have made the film considerably more effective.
Bottom line: Haiwaan has a promising thriller setup, strong star power and some engaging moments, but it does not consistently reach the level its premise promises.