Haiwaan, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, is all set to hit the theatres this Friday. Based on the Malayalam crime thriller Oppam, it is helmed by Priyadarshan, who also directed the original. In a recent interview, the director was asked about casting two A-list stars for his crime thriller. He said that the actors were very comfortable with their roles and had no ego clashes. However, he added that new-generation stars could never be so secure as they always focus on what the other person is doing.
Priyadarshan Says New-Gen Actors Are ‘Very Insecure’
In a chat with Hindustan Times, director Priyadarshan agreed that having two actors of such stature together was a casting coup in today’s time and said it might not have been possible with actors from the current generation. He added that he had worked with Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Ajay Devgn and Akshaye Khanna without any issues as there were no ego clashes between them.
Talking about Akshay and Saif coming together for his latest film, the acclaimed director said, “They both knew that they have a lead role and they have enough meat for themselves. But the new generation is very insecure. They always want to know what the other person is doing. They don’t want to know what they are doing.”
Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan With Priyadarshan
About Haiwaan
is an action-packed thriller that also will see both Akshay and Saif in never-seen-before roles. The film’s story follows a visually challenged martial artist whose world turns upside down when he is falsely accused of murder. It’s based on Oppam, which starred Mohanlal in the lead.
Talking about the film, Priyadarshan recently said, “Haiwaan is the beginning of a new chapter for me, I started with serious films like Gardish, Virasat, but after Hera Pheri, I was pulled into this track of comedy films, I need a break so I thought of this film and I was very confident that this kind of a film will be very well accepted today because what I found very interesting is the reason behind of success of Bhoot Bangla, there were so many films which are too serious like Dhurandhar, Border 2 and Bhoot Bangla came as a sudden relief because people like to watch different kinds of movies at different times, so now I feel that people have been continuously watching a lot of comedy oriented films so I think a thriller has a scope.”
Haiwaan is set to hit theatres on September 11, 2026. The cast also includes Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher.