Bollywood
Akshay Kumar Opens Up About Playing An Antagonist In Director Priyadarshan's Upcoming Film 'Haiwaan', Co-starring Saif Ali Khan
Mumbai, July 28 - Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar is on a roll with back-to-back films. He has already released three films so far, and there is one more, Jolly LLB 3, scheduled to hit the big screens this year. The actor has multiple films in the pipeline, including the talk of the town, Haiwaan, directed by Priyadarshan and co-starring Saif Ali Khan. ## Akshay will be portraying the negative role of a ruthless, cold-blooded killer against Saif Ali Khan, who plays a blind man in this crime thriller, after many years. The actor, known for his versatility across action, comedy, and socially conscious films, revealed during an interview with Hindustan Times that Haiwaan completes what he jokingly refers to as his "unintentional trilogy" after Insaan and Jaanwar. ## The upcoming film marks a long-awaited reunion between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after 17 years. The reunion is creating quite a buzz in the industry, especially with Priyadarshan helming the project. The director-actor trio — Akshay, Saif, and Priyadarshan — has fans anticipating a gripping blend of action and drama. While it is unconfirmed, reports say that Haiwaan is the remake of Priyadarshan's Oppam, but with a darker, high-octane twist suited to Hindi cinema audiences. ## Interestingly, Akshay Kumar's role as the antagonist is a departure from his usual image, and he seems eager to embrace this change. In the interview, he emphasised that playing a villain offers him the creative challenge he's been looking for. "It's not just about being bad for the sake of it. There's a layered complexity to this character that I'm really excited to explore," he said. His fans, too, are looking forward to seeing him step into a villain avatar — a rarity in his recent filmography. ## Akshay humorously pointed out the difference in the comedic styles of his and Sai Ali Khan, saying, “Saif’s humour is very 'SoBo' (South Bombay), while mine is more Andheri and Borivali." The camaraderie between the two actors is also expected to be one of the film’s highlights. This difference, he believes, will make their on-set dynamic both fun and engaging. ## The shoot of Haiwaan will begin on August 23 in Cochin, with a theatrical release planned for 2026. ## Stay tuned...
