Haiwaan (2026) [Film Review]: Akshay Kumar & Saif Ali Khan’s Thriller Struggles to Find Its Bite

Priyadarshan returns to his own Malayalam thriller Oppam (2016) with Haiwaan, a Hindi remake that reunites Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan on screen after 18 years. The ingredients sound promising: a visually impaired man, a dangerous killer, a murdered judge, and a tense game of cat and mouse. Unfortunately, the execution rarely matches that potential.

With a runtime of 2 hours and 44 minutes, Haiwaan takes a relatively straightforward premise and stretches it considerably. While the film occasionally finds energy in its action sequences, the overall experience feels more prolonged than gripping.

A Promising Cat-and-Mouse Story Loses Its Mystery

The story begins after the death of a retired judge, played by Boman Irani. His loyal aide, Shyam Rane (Saif Ali Khan), is visually impaired but possesses an extraordinary ability to sense the presence of people around him. After detecting a killer at the scene without actually seeing him, Shyam becomes determined to uncover the truth.

That killer is Parshuram (Akshay Kumar), a man driven by anger and revenge. He begins stalking Shyam while pursuing the judge’s daughter, turning the situation into a battle between empathy and vengeance.

On paper, this setup offers plenty of opportunities for suspense. However, Haiwaan reveals too much too quickly. The characters rarely possess enough ambiguity to make audiences question their motives, while several supposed secrets become predictable long before the film reveals them.

Saif Ali Khan Brings Sincerity, But His Character Feels Underwritten

Saif Ali Khan delivers a sincere performance as Shyam, bringing a relaxed quality to the character that occasionally works well. His attempt to portray a Maharashtrian maintenance worker gives the role a distinctive flavour, and his chemistry with the supporting cast has some charm.

Yet Shyam never develops into the fully rounded protagonist the story requires. Details about his personality, including his guitar playing, distinctive clothing and easygoing manner, feel more like surface-level traits than elements that meaningfully deepen the character.

The biggest attraction should have been watching Saif and Akshay share the screen again. Their contrasting approaches, however, do not completely click. Saif keeps his performance relatively restrained, while Akshay approaches Parshuram with considerably greater theatricality.

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Akshay Kumar Goes Too Big as the Vengeful Killer

Akshay Kumar commits fully to the role of Parshuram, but the performance frequently feels louder than necessary. The character’s anger and obsession are constantly pushed to the forefront, yet the lack of restraint makes him less frightening than intended.

A quieter, more controlled approach could have made Parshuram considerably more menacing. Instead, several moments of rage feel performed rather than genuinely dangerous.

The supporting cast also gets uneven treatment. Asrani’s comic material does not always land, while Saiyami Kher and Sharib Hashmi are given police roles that could have contributed far more to the investigation.

The Action Offers Fleeting Moments of Suspense

Haiwaan does find some life in its hide-and-seek sequences between Shyam and Parshuram. These moments make effective use of the central premise and provide glimpses of the tense thriller the movie could have been.

The film becomes somewhat more engaging after the interval, but the improvement arrives too late. At nearly three hours, the extended runtime exposes the thinness of the narrative rather than allowing the suspense to build naturally.

The climax is another missed opportunity. Its The Conjuring-style treatment undermines rather than intensifies the tension, with some moments unintentionally drifting toward humour.

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Final Verdict: A Remake That Needed More Tension and Restraint

Haiwaan has an intriguing central concept and a potentially exciting reunion between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. Priyadarshan also brings enough experience with thrillers to make certain sequences work.

But the remake struggles to justify its extended runtime and never creates the sustained mystery necessary for a compelling crime thriller. The predictable writing, uneven characterisation and overly dramatic performances prevent the film from reaching its potential.

There are flashes of entertainment, particularly in the cat-and-mouse action, but Haiwaan ultimately feels like a stretched-out thriller that needed sharper writing, tighter editing and considerably more restraint.

Final Rating: ★★⯪☆☆ (2.5/5)