Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Priyadarshan Defends Akshay and Saif Casting in Haiwaan
Haiwaan is a new movie directed by Priyadarshan.
Saif Ali Khan plays the main character.
Akshay Kumar plays a darker opposing character.
Priyadarshan said Akshay wanted to try a role he had never played before.
The director believes older, experienced actors can work well together because they trust one another.
He also said younger actors can sometimes worry more about the other person’s role.
Haiwaan is a remake of Priyadarshan’s Malayalam movie Oppam.
It is also the final film appearance of Asrani, according to the article.
Haiwaan stars Saif Ali Khan as its protagonist and Akshay Kumar as a darker antagonist.
Priyadarshan said Akshay insisted on playing a character he described as a “psycho.”
The director said experience, trust and sufficient material mattered more than casting younger actors.
Priyadarshan described his collaboration with Akshay as based on strong mutual trust and minimal questioning.
Haiwaan is a Priyadarshan-directed remake of his 2016 Malayalam film Oppam.
- Who
- Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are central to the film; Asrani also appears.
- What
- Haiwaan is an upcoming Hindi film featuring Saif Ali Khan as the protagonist and Akshay Kumar as the antagonist.
- When
- The film is preparing to hit theatres; no release date is given.
- Why
- Priyadarshan said the casting was driven by experience, trust and the actors’ suitability for their roles.
- Film
- Haiwaan
- Director and co-writer
- Priyadarshan
- Protagonist
- Saif Ali Khan
- Antagonist
- Akshay Kumar
- Producers
- KVN Productions and Thespian Films
- Source material
- A remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam film Oppam
- Additional cast detail
- The article describes Haiwaan as Asrani’s final film appearance and says he died in October 2025.