Akshay Kumar Pitched Himself for ‘Haiwaan’ After Several Actors Rejected the Role, Reveals Priyadarshan

Director Priyadarshan has revealed that veteran actor Akshay Kumar pitched himself to play the antagonist in their upcoming thriller Haiwaan after multiple actors turned down the role. Speaking in an interview with India Today, the filmmaker shared how Kumar offered to take on the dark character while they were shooting another project together. ‘Haiwaan’ Trailer Starring Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan Sets Stage for Gritty, Unsettling Narrative Through Striking Use of Silhouettes (Watch).

Priyadarshan on Akshay Kumar Wanting to Play a ‘Psycho’ Role

In his conversation with India Today, Priyadarshan disclosed that he was initially struggling to cast the central villain for Haiwaan. "Many actors I approached said no to me. They even started writing their own script around the character, telling me how it should be done. So I just thought, 'Okay, forget it,'" the filmmaker recalled, opting not to name the actors who declined.

Priyadarshan shared that he was discussing the project with Kumar during the shoot of Bhoot Bangla when the actor unexpectedly volunteered for the part. "I was casually telling him that there was this character and nobody wanted to do it... Then Akshay went for his shot, came back and said, 'Can I do this role?' I said, 'Are you joking?' He said, 'No, I have always wanted to play a psycho.' So, in a way, he pitched himself for the role."

The director explained that he guided Kumar to avoid portraying an overtly sinister villain, aiming instead for a deceptively ordinary persona. "I said, 'Behave as calmly as possible.' Because these psycho characters can be very, very shrewd. You should never feel that there is a criminal underneath. They can be much more polished and nice," Priyadarshan stated, citing figures like Jack the Ripper and the Boston Strangler as reference points for characters who appear polished by day and transform at night.

Reflecting on their long-standing professional relationship, Priyadarshan noted that mutual trust plays a vital role in their collaborations. "He never asks too many questions. He comes when the shot is ready and simply asks, 'What am I supposed to do?' That's it... Because of our long journey together, he has complete trust in me."

He also referenced a famous quote by Amitabh Bachchan "Actors are beggars. They cannot choose" to emphasise the importance of a strong narrative. "If you are getting a good script, that is your biggest strength. However good an actor you are, if your screenplay is not already strong, you can act your backside off, but that's it," Priyadarshan added.

More About ‘Haiwaan’

Haiwaan is an upcoming suspense thriller that marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, and director Priyadarshan. The film serves as the official Hindi adaptation of Priyadarshan's 2016 Malayalam hit Oppam.

The plot centres on a high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase where Saif Ali Khan plays a visually impaired protagonist forced to protect a young girl from a ruthless psychopathic killer, portrayed by Kumar. The film also stars Saiyami Kher as an investigating officer. ‘Haiwaan’ Adaptation of ‘Oppam’: Everything You Need To Know About Mohanlal’s Malayalam Hit Ahead of Akshay-Saif Film Release.

Produced as a dark thriller, Haiwaan brings Kumar and Khan together on screen for the first time since 2008's Tashan. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on September 11, 2026, followed by its digital premiere on SonyLIV.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 31, 2026 06:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).