Movie: Haiwaan
Rating: 2.25/5
Rating: 2.25/5
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Shabir Hashmi, and others
Director: Priyadarshan
Produced By: KVN Productions, Thespian Films
Release Date: 11-09-2026
Story:
Shyam Rane (Saif Ali Khan) is visually impaired. Having lost his father at a young age, he takes responsibility for his family and moves forward in life despite his blindness. He works at an apartment in Mumbai, overseeing its security and maintenance. Though he cannot see, Shyam possesses an exceptional sense of perception and awareness.
Shyam develops a close bond with Pradhan (Boman Irani), a retired judge who lives in the same apartment complex. Shyam is the only person who knows about Pradhan's daughter, whom he has been raising secretly and away from the public eye. For the past few years, Shyam has also been acting as the girl's guardian.
Things take a dramatic turn when Parshuram (Akshay Kumar) murders Pradhan, and he is also after the girl. What is his connection to the girl? Why did Parshuram kill Pradhan? What exactly is the conflict between the two?
How does the blind Shyam manage to stop Parshuram? What challenges does he face along the way? The answers to these questions form the story of Haiwaan.
Performances:
Saif Ali Khan does justice to the role of Shyam, convincingly portraying a visually impaired man through his body language, mannerisms, and movements. His walking style and action sequences are particularly well executed.
Surprisingly, Akshay Kumar fails to make much of an impact as the antagonist Parshuram. The character does not suit him particularly well, and his performance lacks the menace the role demands.
Boman Irani and Shriya Pilgaonkar deliver good performances, while Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav and Shabir Hashmi are adequate in their respective roles.
Saif Ali Khan does justice to the role of Shyam, convincingly portraying a visually impaired man through his body language, mannerisms, and movements. His walking style and action sequences are particularly well executed.
Surprisingly, Akshay Kumar fails to make much of an impact as the antagonist Parshuram. The character does not suit him particularly well, and his performance lacks the menace the role demands.
Boman Irani and Shriya Pilgaonkar deliver good performances, while Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav and Shabir Hashmi are adequate in their respective roles.
What Works:
Haiwaan is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam blockbuster Oppam, which starred Mohanlal in the lead role and was also directed by Priyadarshan. Priyadarshan returns to direct the Hindi remake as well.
The sequence involving Pradhan's murder and the ensuing confrontation between Parashuram and Shyam brings some much-needed momentum to the film. In the second half, a few sequences involving Parashuram's attempts to track down Pradhan's daughter and Shyam's efforts to outsmart him using his intelligence work well.
The central cat-and-mouse setup between the two characters has potential and delivers a few engaging moments.
Haiwaan is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam blockbuster Oppam, which starred Mohanlal in the lead role and was also directed by Priyadarshan. Priyadarshan returns to direct the Hindi remake as well.
The sequence involving Pradhan's murder and the ensuing confrontation between Parashuram and Shyam brings some much-needed momentum to the film. In the second half, a few sequences involving Parashuram's attempts to track down Pradhan's daughter and Shyam's efforts to outsmart him using his intelligence work well.
The central cat-and-mouse setup between the two characters has potential and delivers a few engaging moments.
What Doesn't Work:
For the most part, Haiwaan feels like a near copy-paste adaptation of Oppam. Even for viewers who haven't watched the Malayalam original, the film manages to generate only limited thrills.
The first 40 minutes of the first half are dull and take too long to establish the story. The second half also suffers from unnecessary stretches, particularly the portions where the police trouble Shyam.
Instead of adding unnecessary sentiment and an additional action sequence, the film would have benefited more from focusing on the mind games between Shyam and Parshuram. That cat-and-mouse battle could have made the second half far more engaging.
Saiyami Kher appears as a police officer character who assists Shyam and could have been utilised better.
For the most part, Haiwaan feels like a near copy-paste adaptation of Oppam. Even for viewers who haven't watched the Malayalam original, the film manages to generate only limited thrills.
The first 40 minutes of the first half are dull and take too long to establish the story. The second half also suffers from unnecessary stretches, particularly the portions where the police trouble Shyam.
Instead of adding unnecessary sentiment and an additional action sequence, the film would have benefited more from focusing on the mind games between Shyam and Parshuram. That cat-and-mouse battle could have made the second half far more engaging.
Saiyami Kher appears as a police officer character who assists Shyam and could have been utilised better.
Haiwaan Review And Verdict:
Haiwaan has a simple premise with enough potential to become a solid crime thriller. Unfortunately, apart from Saif Ali Khan's performance and a handful of effective sequences, the film ends up being disappointing.
Akshay Kumar's casting as the antagonist doesn't quite work, while the largely unengaging and stretched-out screenplay further weakens the film. With sharper writing, better pacing, and a stronger focus on the central mind game, Haiwaan could have been a much more effective thriller.
Haiwaan has a simple premise with enough potential to become a solid crime thriller. Unfortunately, apart from Saif Ali Khan's performance and a handful of effective sequences, the film ends up being disappointing.
Akshay Kumar's casting as the antagonist doesn't quite work, while the largely unengaging and stretched-out screenplay further weakens the film. With sharper writing, better pacing, and a stronger focus on the central mind game, Haiwaan could have been a much more effective thriller.
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