Actor Akshay Kumar is set to portray a villain in the upcoming crime thriller film ‘Havaan.’ During a recent appearance on the quiz reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 20,’ he revealed that insights from his police friends significantly aided his preparation for the role.
Joining him on the show was his co-star Saif Ali Khan, and Kumar elaborated on his character. “Sir, I am playing the villain while Saif is the hero. My character is a psychopath, and there’s a backstory to how I become this way and what I endure as the film progresses,” he explained.
When Amitabh Bachchan, the show’s host, inquired about his preparation for playing a villain, Kumar shared how real-life advice from his friends in law enforcement, along with guidance from director Priyadarshan, enhanced his performance.
He noted, “Many of my friends work in the police force and frequently encounter psychopaths. They told me that the way psychopaths are portrayed in films is not accurate. They blend in with society, making it hard to discern what’s going on in their minds.”
Kumar added that he shared this knowledge with Priyadarshan, who advised him against adopting exaggerated facial expressions for the role. “I understood this, and Priyadarshan sir also said I didn’t need to make any strange faces. Throughout the film, I remain calm while Saif engages more, allowing me to seamlessly immerse myself in the character.”
‘Havaan,’ directed by Priyadarshan, is an official Hindi remake of the 2016 Malayalam film ‘Oppam,’ featuring a cast that includes Boman Irani, Shreya Pilgaonkar, and Saiyami Kher, with a cameo by Mohanlal.