25 August,2026 01:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Haiwaan trailer. Pic via YouTube
Akshay Kumar is embracing one of his darkest avatars yet, while Saif Ali Khan has a rather unusual challenge to tackle in Haiwaan. The trailer of Priyadarshan's upcoming thriller has finally dropped, setting up a tense face-off between its Hero and Haiwaan in what promises to be a cat-and-mouse chase with plenty of twists.
The film brings Akshay and Saif together for a battle of wits, with the trailer keeping the mystery around their eventual showdown firmly under wraps. One is presented as the feared "Haiwaan", while the other is the Hero, and there is one major complication - Saif's character is blind.
The trailer wastes little time in establishing the dark and unpredictable world of Haiwaan. Akshay steps into a chilling avatar as the man at the centre of the chaos, while Saif finds himself on the opposite side of the chase.
Rather than giving away too much, the trailer appears to build its tension around the pursuit between the two men. The mood is ominous, the stakes look high, and Priyadarshan uses the film's eerie background score to ensure that the tension rarely lets up.
The face-off also marks an intriguing change of pace for Akshay, who appears to be leaning into a much darker character than audiences are used to seeing from him. Meanwhile, Saif's role as a blind man adds another layer to the thriller, raising the question of just how the Hero plans to take on the Haiwaan.
And if the trailer has its way, the audience is meant to keep guessing until the two finally come face to face.
The film also features a strong supporting cast, with Boman Irani playing a judge and Saiyami Kher stepping into the role of a cop. Shriya Pilgaonkar and Sharib Hashmi also feature in pivotal roles, adding more players to what looks like a high-stakes game.
With its shadowy visuals, suspenseful score and two leading men on opposite sides, Haiwaan is positioning itself as a tense theatrical thriller rather than a straightforward action spectacle. The biggest question, however, remains unanswered - when the Hero and Haiwaan finally meet, who will come out on top?
Directed by Priyadarshan, Haiwaan is produced under KVN Productions and Thespian Films by Venkat K. Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn. The thriller is set for a worldwide theatrical release on September 11, 2026.
The chase has begun. Now all that's left is the final showdown.
