If you are new to Priyadarshan’s Bollywood movies, just know that they are mostly remakes of his own Malayalam projects and typically feature Akshay Kumar in the lead. Haiwaan, a remake of his 2016 film Oppam starring Mohanlal, is a scene-by-scene Hindi replica. The only real difference here is that the lead, played by Saif Ali Khan, gets a famous villain in Akshay Kumar to lock horns with, unlike the original.

A predictable plot

If you have already watched Oppam, save yourself the torture and skip Haiwaan. If you haven't, prepare yourself for 2000s-style filmmaking coupled with terrible acting. The story revolves around Shyam Rane (Saif), a blind man who wears multiple hats to make ends meet for his sister’s marriage. He works as a security manager, martial arts instructor, music teacher for visually impaired students, and assistant to a retired judge (Boman Irani). His "superpowers" include a heightened sense of smell and incredible physical strength. Eventually, he learns that the judge has an illegitimate daughter, Nandini (Pahal Chaudhary), whom he keeps hidden from the public to protect her from his past.