14 August,2026 07:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Priyadarshan and Saif Ali Khan. Pics via IMDb and Instagram
For Priyadarshan, working with Saif Ali Khan for the first time on Haiwaan turned out to be quite a revelation. The filmmaker, who has worked with several Bollywood stars over the years, has now opened up about Saif's approach to acting, his curiosity on set and the surprising habit that stood out to him the most.
Haiwaan, which also stars Akshay Kumar in a negative role, marks the first collaboration between Priyadarshan and Saif. The teaser has already offered a glimpse of Saif's unusual character, a visually challenged man, while keeping the film's larger mystery under wraps.
Priyadarshan described Saif as a mature actor who may have plenty of questions initially, but quickly understands what the director wants and follows through. The filmmaker recalled that Saif had numerous questions during the first few days of the shoot. However, once those queries were answered, the actor settled into the director's vision.
"After two days, I found that there was no question, so I asked him in the morning, âAny questions?' He said, âNo sir, now I know what you want to shoot,'" Priyadarshan recalled.
For the filmmaker, that understanding helped build trust between the two, eventually making the shoot smoother.
But it was Saif's behaviour between takes that particularly caught Priyadarshan's attention.
According to Priyadarshan, Saif was rarely glued to his phone while waiting for his next shot. Instead, the actor would spend his downtime reading books.
"Saif is too committed. I have noticed one wonderful thing about him, which is very difficult to see today. In between the shots, he only reads books," the director shared.
Priyadarshan said he discovered that Saif is a voracious reader with considerable knowledge about subjects beyond cinema. The two reportedly bonded over their shared interest in a wide range of topics, with Priyadarshan also being a fan of Saif's late father, legendary cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.
The actor even gifted the filmmaker a book carrying Pataudi's autograph, making their growing camaraderie even more memorable.
The director believes that Saif's confidence in him ultimately helped move Haiwaan forward smoothly. With Saif playing a visually challenged character and Akshay taking on a darker role, Haiwaan promises to be a departure from the usual Bollywood thriller template. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film is scheduled to hit cinemas on September 11, 2026.
