The first-look posters of ‘Haiwaan’, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, were unveiled on July 15 and have drawn a mix of excitement and scepticism from fans and trade watchers alike.
Directed by Priyadarshan, the film is the official Hindi remake of the 2016 Malayalam thriller ‘Oppam’. The makers released five character posters showing Akshay in a black beanie with the tagline “Vengeance sees everything” and Saif Ali Khan against a green and red neon backdrop with the tagline “Every sense is a weapon.” Additional posters show the two actors in red and yellow tones, with a final image bringing them together alongside a young girl holding a teddy bear. Sharing the posters on Instagram, Akshay wrote, “One sees everything, One misses nothing, Haiwaniyat ab nahin rukegi.”
Many fans reacted enthusiastically online, with comments including “Let’s gooooooo, one of the most awaited movies for me” and “This is the Akshay Kumar we wanted.” Others called it a “mass class poster” and said they could not wait to see Akshay in a negative role.
At the same time, the reveal also drew a more cautious response from some quarters. Discussions around the film noted that it marks Akshay and Saif’s first collaboration since 2008’s ‘Tashan’, which had been both a commercial and critical failure, leading some to question whether the reunion would work better this time. Trade observers pointed out that audiences last saw Akshay in a villainous role in ‘2.0’, where heavy use of VFX meant his antagonist act did not fully register with viewers, and some online users questioned whether ‘Haiwaan’ would allow him to portray menace more convincingly. The film being a remake also became a talking point, with the project having been originally planned with Ajay Devgn before it changed hands over the years.
‘Haiwaan’ also stars Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher and Shriya Pilgaonkar in pivotal roles, with Mohanlal, who led the original Malayalam version, making a cameo appearance. The film is produced by Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn under KVN Productions and Thespian Films, and is set for a theatrical release on September 11.
