The wait is finally over for fans of Bollywood thrillers. The official trailer of Haiwaan, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, dropped on August 25, 2026. The nearly two-and-a-half-minute footage offers a chilling look at a dark psychological conflict where a ruthless psychopath hunts down a visually impaired man. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film brings these two actors together on the big screen after 18 years.
A Dangerous Cat-and-Mouse Chase Takes Center Stage
The Haiwaan trailer sets up an eerie, shadow-heavy world. A series of gruesome crimes spreads panic across the city, with multiple policemen and their families being targeted. The killer, played by Akshay Kumar, seems to operate without any fear of being caught, using axes, knives, and other brutal weapons.
Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan plays a blind lift operator and a single father. His character finds himself falsely implicated and arrested by the police. Forced to rely on his heightened senses of hearing, smell, and ability to recognize voices, he becomes an unexpected witness to a murder. Believing that the blind man cannot identify him, the killer assumes he is safe. However, Saif’s character begins to piece together what happened, setting the stage for a tense battle of survival.
The trailer also features several intense action sequences between the two leads. At one point, Saif asks Akshay how many more people he plans to kill. Akshay responds that Saif and his family will be the last. The trailer ends with Akshay’s character approaching a door behind which Saif and a young girl, who appears to be his daughter, are hiding.
Akshay Kumar Goes Completely Evil in His Darkest Avatar Yet
Akshay Kumar is taking a much darker turn with Haiwaan. Unlike morally complicated villains often seen on screen, his character is described as someone who is simply evil. Speaking to HT City earlier this month, Akshay said:
“As the title goes, I am playing Haiwaan and my character has no grey shades, he’s out and out evil. I always wanted to play a psycho on-screen. With my last four-five films, I have tried to switch between completely different genres: comedy, horror, action, drama. This is my first time playing evil in the truest sense. I like to constantly challenge myself and Haiwaan is that challenge for me.”
Director Priyadarshan, who has previously worked with Akshay in popular films like Hera Pheri and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, also revealed that the actor’s raw look came together in an unexpected way.
The Cast and Crew of Haiwaan
Alongside Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, the film features a strong supporting cast. Boman Irani appears as a judge, while Saiyami Kher plays a police officer. Shriya Pilgaonkar and Sharib Hashmi also feature in pivotal roles. Other cast members include Rajpal Yadav, Rajesh Sharma, Pahal Chaudhary, and Manoj Joshi.
The film is produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn under KVN Productions and Thespian Films. Pritam has composed the music, while the background score is by Ronnie Raphael. The technical team includes Sabu Cyril as the production designer, Divakar Mani as the cinematographer, and action direction by Stunt Silva and Ravi Thyagarajan.
Related:
The Oppam Connection: A Hindi Remake with a Twist
Haiwaan is the official Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, which starred Mohanlal in the lead role. The original film was a critical and commercial success, known for its gripping narrative and Mohanlal’s performance as a blind man with heightened senses.
In this Hindi version, Saif Ali Khan takes on the role originally played by Mohanlal, while Akshay Kumar steps into the antagonist’s shoes. The trailer stays true to the core premise of the original but adds its own visual and stylistic flair. With its neo-noir visual style, high psychological tension, and atmospheric score, the footage sets up a suspense-driven theatrical thriller.
Release Date and OTT Platform
Haiwaan is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on September 11, 2026. The film will also arrive on OTT after its theatrical run. According to the film’s official posters, SonyLIV has acquired the streaming rights. The platform will stream the crime thriller after its theatrical release.
Also Read: Priyadarshan Calls Saif Ali Khan ‘Greedy But Obedient’ After First Collaboration In Haiwaan
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