Fans have certainly waited for a long time but now they will finally see Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan sharing screen space again. The two actors are teaming up for a horror thriller titled Haiwaan and ever since the announcement, the film has been creating a lot of excitement. But what many may not know is that Saif was not the original choice for the role.
Filmmaker Priyadarshan had once hoped to cast Amitabh Bachchan in the project. In an earlier interview, he shared that there were two collaborations he always wished for but could never make happen — one with renowned writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair and another with Amitabh Bachchan. He explained that although he and Amitabh Bachchan came close to working together several times, their projects never took off for different reasons. The films they had planned simply did not materialise.
Years later, in 2025, Priyadarshan shared a special moment from the sets of Haiwaan on Instagram. He posted a picture with Saif Ali Khan and Malayalam superstar Mohanlal. In his caption, he reflected on how life comes full circle, saying he found himself working with the son of one of his biggest cricket heroes and alongside his favourite film icon. He was referring to Saif whose father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, also known as Tiger Pataudi, was a legendary Indian cricket captain and batsman. At the same time, he was speaking about Mohanlal whom he deeply admires as an actor. In the photo, Saif and Mohanlal were seen wearing sunglasses and holding walking sticks.
Haiwaan is the Hindi remake of the 2016 Malayalam film Oppam. In the original, Mohanlal played a blind man who witnesses a m*rder and must protect a child while a k*ller closes in. In the Hindi version, Saif steps into that intense role. Priyadarshan has confirmed that Mohanlal will also appear in the remake in a cameo, though he has kept details about his character under wraps. He has said that for him, the story always comes first and that he never makes films thinking about specific actors.
Haiwaan also marks Priyadarshan’s reunion with Akshay Kumar after their 2010 film Khatta Meetha. The duo is also collaborating on another project titled Bhooth Bangla. At the same time, Haiwaan brings Akshay and Saif back together on screen after their 2008 film Tashan.
The film is backed by KVN Productions’ Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn’s Thespian Films, and also stars Saiyami Kher in an important role. Haiwaan is expected to release in 2026 and with so many emotional connections and reunions attached to it, the film already has audiences waiting eagerly.
