The cameras have started rolling for Priyadarshan’s Hindi thriller Haiwaan, with Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan reuniting on screen after more than a decade. The film, shot in Kochi this weekend, marks
a return for the director–actor duo that has delivered several hits in the past.
What has caught fans by surprise, however, is that Mohanlal will also appear in the movie, making a special cameo that Priyadarshan says will leave the audience guessing.
Mohanlal to join Akshay and Saif on screen
Speaking to OnManorama from the film’s Kochi set, Priyadarshan confirmed that Haiwaan is a remake of his Malayalam film Oppam but with significant changes. He revealed that Mohanlal, who led the original, will be part of the Hindi version too. “His character will definitely be a surprise to the audience,” the filmmaker teased. On his rapport with Akshay, he added, “It’s all about comfort. For me, he is Bollywood’s Mohanlal.”
Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s big-screen reunion
The project also reunites Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, who previously worked together in Main Khiladi Tu Anari (1994) and Tashan (2008). This time, they step into Priyadarshan’s suspense-driven thriller.
Akshay posted a behind-the-scenes video from the first day of shoot, showing him with a clapboard while Saif and the director shared a laugh. In the clip, Akshay wore a T-shirt with the word Saint, which led Priyadarshan to joke that Saif should be wearing it instead, while Akshay held the Haiwaan slate.
Akshay captioned the video, “Hum sab hi hain thode se shaitaan… Koi upar se Saint, koi andar se Haiwaan.”
Akshay Kumar On Haiwaan
Akshay Kumar will reportedly take on the role of the villain in Haiwaan. When asked about the film’s title, the actor jokingly told Hindustan Times, “This is something that was written in my destiny. First, I did a film called Insaan. Then after that, I did Jaanwar. Now I’m doing Haiwaan. So the trilogy is complete — Insaan, Jaanwar, Haiwaan.” However, he laughed it off and added, “It’s not something that was planned this way.”
More stars and locations lined up
The film, produced by KVN Productions and Thespian Films, also features Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher in leading roles. After wrapping its Kochi schedule, the team will move to Vagamon, Ooty and later Mumbai.
