Mumbai: Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s much-awaited reunion has finally hit theatres, but does Priyadarshan’s thriller live up to the hype?
The film has an intriguing premise and two strong leads, but its uneven screenplay and stretched runtime keep it from becoming the gripping thriller it promises to be.
While Saif stands out in his role, Akshay’s menacing turn delivers mixed results.
The story follows Shyam (Saif Ali Khan), a visually impaired man who gets caught in a dangerous situation involving Parshuram (Akshay Kumar), a man driven by revenge.
Shyam’s ability to depend on his other senses gives the film an interesting angle, particularly in the first half.
Saif is the strongest part of the film. He plays Shyam with simplicity and restraint, making his vulnerability believable.
His action scenes are also effective, and the film works best when it shows how Shyam uses his surroundings to deal with difficult situations.
Akshay plays a darker role as Parshuram. He brings his usual screen presence to the character and handles the action well, but the villain does not feel as threatening as the story demands.
The character could have had more depth, which would have made his conflict with Shyam more engaging.
The screenplay is where Haiwaan begins to lose its way. The first half creates enough curiosity to keep you watching, but the second half becomes slower and more predictable.
The film moves between thriller, action, comedy and emotion, but these elements do not always blend smoothly.
Boman Irani makes an impact in the supporting cast, while Rajpal Yadav adds some humour. However, the comic portions sometimes take away from the tension that the story is trying to build.
Priyadarshan manages to deliver a few entertaining moments, but the film feels too long at nearly three hours.
Several scenes could have been shorter, particularly in the latter half. The climax also fails to deliver the impact expected after the build-up.
The Akshay-Saif combination is one of the biggest reasons to watch ‘Haiwaan’, but their face-off does not fully live up to expectations.
Both actors bring their strengths to the film, yet their confrontation could have carried much more intensity.
Overall, Haiwaan has a good idea, a capable cast and some entertaining moments, but an uneven screenplay and lengthy narrative hold it back. Saif stands out, while Akshay brings energy to his negative role.
‘Haiwaan’ has an interesting premise and strong performances, but its slow second half and uneven writing stop it from becoming the gripping thriller it aims to be.
#Haiwaan BIG Disappointment 👎👎👎👎
Average Film 🙄🙄🙄🙄#Saifalikhan Just boom 🔥🔥🔥🔥#akshaykumar ☠️☠️☠️☠️#Haiwaan#Haiwaanreview #Review#trending#Newmovie pic.twitter.com/VqLGPTcFbc— Zahedul Islam (@islam_zahe22566) September 11, 2026