Actor Boman Irani has made it clear that his upcoming film Haiwaan is not a simple copy of director Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam. The actor said the filmmaker has taken a fresh approach to the story rather than just reusing what worked before.
Haiwaan features Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in lead roles and is set to release in theatres on September 11, 2026. The film marks Priyadarshan’s return to serious cinema after years of making comedies.
Priyadarshan Did Not Let Actors Watch Oppam
Boman Irani revealed that Priyadarshan did not want any of the actors to watch the original Malayalam film before shooting.
“He refused to let us see it. None of us had watched it. But I did watch some of it later, without his permission and, of course, it’s completely different.”
Boman said he chose not to watch too much of Oppam because he did not want it to shape how he played his character.
“Also, I didn’t want to be influenced by it because I might have gone in that direction. But what I understood, plain and simple, is that the man is not cut-pasting.”
He added that Priyadarshan is not simply thinking about what worked in the original and applying it to the new film.
“He isn’t thinking, ‘That worked there, so it will work here.’ I don’t think he is depending on that. He likes the premise, the story and the situation, and that is what excites him enough to make the film.”
Director Also Says Haiwaan Is Not a Carbon Copy
Priyadarshan himself has said that Haiwaan should not be seen as a copy of Oppam. He stressed that he has deliberately approached the story in a different way.
“No, I don’t want to talk about the changes. Let people see it and understand.”
The director explained that he never shows his original films to actors when he is remaking them.
“I never show any of my films when I’m remaking them. I’ll never show them to anyone. Because that film will have no connection with this film. And also, if you show it to them, they will try to imitate those actors. And I don’t want to do that.”
Priyadarshan also talked about casting Akshay Kumar in a negative role after their popular comedy collaborations.
“That’s the difference, because every film should not look the same. So I thought I could use Akshay Kumar in a different way. So this is one opportunity I got and I decided, okay, let me work with him in a different role.”
Boman Irani Focused on Bringing Something Fresh
Boman Irani said his goal was to bring something new to his character rather than trying to be better than the actors in the original.
“It is my belief that Priyan sir is making this film with the thinking that the approach, story, core story, or soul will remain the same, but the approach will be different and we will shoot from a completely different perspective.”
He said he did not want to approach the film as a competition with the original performances.
“If every character does their work with great dedication, it benefits the film. If we say we’re going to make it stronger than them, then it becomes a problem.”
The Story and Characters of Haiwaan
Haiwaan tells the story of a man who seeks revenge after being wronged by the legal system. The only person standing in his way is a blind man, played by Saif Ali Khan.
Boman Irani plays a judge who sends an innocent man to prison. He described his character’s situation as a difficult choice.
“It’s Sophie’s choice, but he has to take a call. He is working on a hunch, sure. The system says one thing, and if my character takes a call, he is doing it because that’s what the law is.”
But Boman said this injustice does not justify revenge.
“If the law is an ass in this case, you can’t use that as an excuse.”
Priyadarshan explained the deeper message of the film.
“In the judiciary, every judge and lawyer talks about this one choice: proof and conscience. Every judge has experienced a clash between the two. This is what I wanted to convey in this story.”
What Is a ‘Haiwaan’?
When asked about the meaning of the film’s title, Boman Irani gave a straightforward answer.
“Haiwaan is someone who comes in the way of creators making good cinema.”
Priyadarshan agreed with this definition and said there are many such people in the industry.
Boman Irani on Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s Roles
Boman Irani said audiences will see Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in roles they have never played before. He mentioned that he did not have many scenes with Akshay, but he is happy that the actor took on a different kind of character.
“I am glad that you are finding it, that Akshay has in his career trajectory, taken up a role that he’s never played before. I think one should always be doing roles that you have never played before.”
He extended the same thought to Saif Ali Khan.
“So I think it’s a blessing when you get an opportunity like this, for that matter even Saif probably never done this film before, a character like this before.”
“I think we should be excited for actors, for heroes, for these two guys have been around for quite some time, to see a change. And I think this is an opportunity that we will all feel very happy.”
Working With Priyadarshan
Boman Irani spoke about Priyadarshan’s filmmaking process and how the director’s understanding of the camera often changes how a scene turns out.
“I can rehearse something 500 times the way I want to do it, but I go on the set and he’ll say, ‘No, I’d rather you don’t take this sombre approach. Take a more casual approach. I’d rather you don’t take an emotional approach; take a slightly more aggressive approach.’ What you rehearse does not matter once you come onto the set.”
He called Priyadarshan a “master” of visual storytelling.
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Release Information
Haiwaan is scheduled to release in theatres on September 11, 2026. The film will be available worldwide in cinemas on this date.
The film is produced by KVN Productions and Thespian Films. It features an ensemble cast including Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Sharib Hashmi alongside Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
The film marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan on the big screen after their previous collaborations including ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari’, ‘Yeh Dillagi’, ‘Aarzoo’ and ‘Tashan’.
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