‘Haiwaan’ Movie Review: Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan’s Reunion Fails To Rescue Priyadarshan’s Messy Thriller

The long-awaited screen reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the psychological action thriller Haiwaan has arrived in cinemas, opening to mixed reviews from film critics and early audience members. Directed by veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, the movie features Khan as a visually impaired protagonist protecting a young girl from a vengeful antagonist played by Kumar. While reviewers have commended the lead actors' screen presence and a tense final act, many critics noted that uneven pacing, plot holes, and a bloated runtime weaken the overall impact of the narrative. Akshay Kumar 59th Birthday: Upcoming Movies of Bollywood’s ‘Khiladi Kumar’.

‘Haiwaan’ Movie Review

Initial reviews for Haiwaan highlight a stark contrast between its dynamic lead performances and its underlying screenplay. Critics generally praised Akshay Kumar for stepping into a dark, sinister role as the relentless Parshuram, marking a noticeable shift from his typical hero archetypes.

Watch the Trailer of ‘Haiwaan’:

Saif Ali Khan’s portrayal of Shyam, the visually impaired protagonist, received mixed reactions; while some praised his restrained performance, other reviewers found his character's heightened senses unrealistically portrayed, creating a disconnect in grounded scenes.

The central cat-and-mouse dynamic between the two actors remains widely cited as the film's primary strength.  Despite the star power, several film analysts pointed out structural flaws in the movie's execution. Running at nearly two hours and 44 minutes, the first half faces criticism for a sluggish narrative, jarring song placements, and comic subplots that distract from the main suspense.

While Priyadarshan succeeds in building genuine tension during the climactic final 20 minutes, critics largely agree that the payoff arrives too late to fully redeem the narrative's earlier missteps.

iDiva: "Haiwaan works better as a comedy than as a thriller. Saif Ali Khan delivers a solid performance, Asrani Ji is easily the highlight, and the film has enough Priyadarshan-style humour to keep you entertained in parts. Unfortunately, the weak screenplay, predictable mystery and stretched climax prevent it from becoming the gripping thriller it promises to be."

India Today: "Haiwaan is not a bad film. It has a good cast, a workable story, with splashes of comedy and a director who knows this material. It is simply a film that needed someone to make it tighter and cut it down to the thriller it could have been, rather than the occasionally enjoyable, ultimately unsatisfying version that has made it to screen."

NDTV: "Haiwaan is both glossy and flashy, but the director stays true to the core of the story. The judge has a daughter who he has hidden from the world. Only Shyam knows of her existence. It is when the predatory Parashuram finds out who and where the schoolgirl is that all hell breaks loose and the film kicks into top gear."

Money Control: "The cat-and-mouse game between Shyam and Parshuram should have been the film's driving force, but it drags on far too long and eventually turns tedious. Haiwaan has the ingredients for a tense crime thriller, yet rarely builds the tension needed to keep you invested; scenes keep stretching just when the story should be pushing forward."

More About ‘Haiwaan’

Haiwaan marks the first theatrical collaboration between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in 18 years, following their previous projects such as Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi, and Tashan. Produced by KVN Productions and Thespian Films, the movie is an official Hindi adaptation of Priyadarshan's 2016 Malayalam hit Oppam, which originally starred Mohanlal. ‘Haiwaan’ Adaptation of ‘Oppam’: Everything You Need To Know About Mohanlal’s Malayalam Hit Ahead of Akshay-Saif Film Release.

The ensemble supporting cast includes Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Sharib Hashmi, and child actor Paahal Chaudhary, with a special cameo appearance by Mohanlal. The film also features a musical score composed by Pritam. Haiwaan is currently playing in theatres worldwide following its multi-city production schedule across Kochi, Ooty, and Mumbai.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 11, 2026 04:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).