In this Akshay Kumar Haiwaan movie review, we explore director Priyadarshan’s 2026 psychological thriller starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan together again after nearly twenty years. As a new version of the 2016 Malayalam movie Oppam, it tries to turn a simple murder mystery into a thrilling chase.

However, a confusing script and a movie that drags on too long have kept it from doing well at the box office, despite strong acting.

Attribute Details Box

Priyadarshan Haiwaan Oppam Remake Transforms Suspense Into Psychological Action

Director Priyadarshan chose to rewrite the main feel of his 2016 Malayalam film Oppam rather than making an identical copy for the Priyadarshan Haiwaan Oppam remake. Where the original used quiet tension and a blind hero to build suspense, Haiwaan ramps up the conflict into a raw, intense psychological action thriller centered around a personal grudge.

The story centers on a blind man accused of a crime he did not commit, forced to protect a young girl while evading a vengeful killer. To broaden its commercial reach, Priyadarshan introduced expanded set pieces and an explosive face-off between the two leads. The film also features a special cameo by Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, the original lead of Oppam and serves as the final screen appearance of beloved veteran actor Asrani in this Akshay Kumar Haiwaan movie review perspective.

Saif Ali Khan Haiwaan Performance and Akshay Kumar Chemistry Stand Out

Reviewers praising the Saif Ali Khan Haiwaan performance highlight how well he plays a blind main character facing serious danger. Across from him, Akshay Kumar plays an unusual, unhinged villain who brings an unpredictable element to every scene. The screen energy between the two veteran stars provides the film’s most rewarding sequences in this Akshay Kumar Haiwaan movie review assessment.

Even with great acting, the movie still has some big writing and structure issues. Reviews from Hindustan Times and MensXP note that the story is too long, has silly mistakes in police work, and features a forgettable background score. On the other hand, as The Times of India reports, early viewers online liked the dark plot, even though the middle part drags a bit before picking up for an exciting final battle.

Haiwaan Box Office Collection Struggles Against Massive Haiwaan Budget 130 Crore

The financial tracking for the film paints a challenging picture for its investors. The Haiwaan box office collection opened at ₹3 crore net in India on Friday, as noted by trade portal Koimoi. While this start outperformed Akshay Kumar’s recent low debuts like Mission Raniganj and Selfiee, the momentum failed to hold.

After a slight uptick on Saturday, Sunday collections dipped, bringing the 3-day opening weekend total to ₹6.75 crore net. Against a reported Haiwaan budget 130 crore price tag, trade reporting from Bollymoviereviewz indicates that the film faces a severe uphill struggle toward recovery in this Akshay Kumar Haiwaan movie review breakdown. Industry analysts attribute the weak theatrical turnout to growing audience fatigue toward South Indian remakes and stiff competition from home digital streaming options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the opening weekend box office collection of Haiwaan?

Haiwaan earned ₹6.75 crore net over its opening weekend in India against an estimated ₹130 crore budget, as highlighted in this Akshay Kumar Haiwaan movie review.

Is the 2026 film Haiwaan a direct remake of Oppam?

It is a reimagining of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, elevated with psychological action rather than a word-for-word copy.

Who stars alongside Akshay Kumar in Haiwaan?

Saif Ali Khan leads the film alongside Akshay Kumar, featuring a special cameo by Mohanlal and the final screen performance of Asrani.

What were the main critical criticisms of Haiwaan?

While critics praised the lead performances and suspenseful climax, they criticized the bloated runtime, inconsistent screenplay logic, and weak music in this Akshay Kumar Haiwaan movie review analysis.

References

• Hindustan Times: Haiwaan review — Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan lead an uneven thriller by Priyadarshan
• The Times of India: Haiwaan Twitter review — Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s thriller earns praise
• Koimoi: Haiwaan Box Office Collection Day 1 — Opens As Predicted, Scores Better Than Mission Raniganj & Selfiee
• Bollymoviereviewz: Haiwaan Budget & Box Office Collection Day 3 Daywise & Worldwide
• MensXP: Haiwaan Review — Strong Performances Cannot Save This Action Thriller From Wasting Its Potential
• Wikipedia: Haiwaan (2026 film) – Production and Cast Credits

Also Read