Mumbai: Akshay Kumar is set to explore a darker side of his acting with Haiwaan, in which he plays a psychopath and antagonist. The actor has described the role as his first time playing evil in its truest sense, marking a significant departure from the characters he has portrayed in his earlier films.
Directed by Priyadarshan, Haiwaan brings Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan together for a thriller that is expected to showcase the two actors in contrasting roles. The film is scheduled to release in cinemas on September 11, 2026.
Akshay Kumar takes on a disturbing character
Akshay Kumar has played negative shades and morally complicated characters in the past, but Haiwaan is expected to take that portrayal considerably further.
Speaking about his character, the actor said this is the first time he has played evil in its truest sense. The role requires him to portray a psychopath rather than a conventional antagonist with a sympathetic motivation.
That distinction appears to be central to what attracted Kumar to the project.
Instead of relying solely on physicality or action, the character is expected to explore a more unsettling psychological side of the actor’s performance.
A different side of Akshay Kumar
Kumar has built much of his career around action, comedy, drama and socially relevant subjects. While he has occasionally portrayed negative characters, Haiwaan gives him an opportunity to move firmly into darker territory.
The actor’s decision to embrace a psychopath character is particularly interesting because audiences have traditionally associated him with protagonists who eventually fight the villain.
This time, he is the person audiences are expected to fear.
The role could therefore become one of the more unusual additions to his filmography.
Priyadarshan reunites with Akshay Kumar
Haiwaan also marks another collaboration between Akshay Kumar and filmmaker Priyadarshan.
The actor-director duo has previously delivered films such as Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.
Their earlier collaborations have largely been associated with comedy and entertainment, making their move towards a darker thriller particularly noteworthy.
Priyadarshan’s experience with suspense and character-driven storytelling could give Haiwaan a different tone from his popular comedy films.
Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan reunite
One of the film’s biggest attractions is the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
The two actors have previously shared screen space, but Haiwaan brings them together after a long gap. Reports describe the film as a reunion after nearly 18 years. (Instagram)
Their contrasting screen personas are expected to play an important role in the thriller.
While Kumar takes on the darker character, Saif is part of the film’s central conflict, setting up a confrontation between the two performers.
Why the psychopath role is significant
Playing a psychopath requires more than simply appearing threatening.
Such characters often depend on subtle expressions, unpredictable behaviour and the ability to create tension without constantly relying on action sequences.
For Kumar, the challenge will be to make the character convincing without turning him into a conventional larger-than-life villain.
His description of the character as his first genuinely evil role suggests that the film’s makers are deliberately moving away from the idea of a villain who can easily be justified or redeemed.
Haiwaan promises a darker thriller
The film’s promotional material has already positioned Haiwaan as an intense thriller centred around vengeance.
The promotional tagline associated with the film is “Vengeance sees everything. Every sense is a weapon.”
That positioning suggests that the story could place considerable emphasis on psychological tension and sensory elements rather than being a straightforward action film.
Kumar’s character is consequently likely to be an important part of the film’s suspense.
A major change from Kumar’s recent roles
The project comes at an interesting stage in Akshay Kumar’s career.
The actor has moved between comedy, action, historical drama and socially focused films throughout his career. His willingness to experiment with different genres has remained a recurring feature of his filmography.
Haiwaan could provide another opportunity for him to demonstrate that versatility.
Taking on a genuinely sinister character may also allow Kumar to move away from the familiar heroic image that has defined many of his most popular performances.
What fans can expect
With Akshay Kumar playing the antagonist and Saif Ali Khan on the opposite side of the conflict, Haiwaan has created considerable curiosity ahead of its theatrical release.
The film’s combination of Priyadarshan’s direction, two established actors and a darker storyline gives it a distinctive position among upcoming Hindi releases.
For Kumar in particular, the film represents an opportunity to test how audiences respond to him when he is not the character they are expected to support.
Conclusion
Akshay Kumar’s portrayal in Haiwaan marks a significant shift from many of his familiar roles. The actor has described the psychopath character as his first experience of playing evil in its truest sense, suggesting that the film will present him in an unusually dark avatar.
Directed by Priyadarshan and featuring Saif Ali Khan alongside Kumar, Haiwaan is scheduled to release on September 11, 2026.
The film’s darker premise and Kumar’s transformation into a genuinely sinister antagonist could make it one of the more intriguing performances of his recent career.