Priyadarshan has stepped in to shut down one of the biggest talking points around Haiwaan. As conversation around the Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan starrer increasingly framed the film as a remake, the filmmaker offered a pointed clarification that sharply resets expectations around his September 2026 thriller.
That pushback lands at a crucial moment for Haiwaan, a film already carrying serious curiosity because it brings Akshay and Saif together again in a Priyadarshan directorial. The project has been mounted as a theatrical release for September 11, 2026, and the pairing alone has helped turn it into one of the more watched Hindi titles on the calendar.
Priyadarshan Explains His Remake Stand
Speaking about the “remake” remarks around Haiwaan, Priyadarshan said, “Haiwaan is not a remake. Every time when I remake or adapt my own film, I always change the film. If you see Bhool Bhulaiyaa, it is not Manichitrathazhu.”
He then explained how his process has always depended on reshaping a story for a new setting and audience. In his words, “I always adapt according to the culture, according to the city, for example, my film Gardish originally has a village backdrop but I shot in Mumbai’s underworld.”
Driving the point home, the filmmaker added, “I only use the soul of the story, I have done the same with Haiwaan.”
The statement is significant because Priyadarshan is not distancing himself from adaptation as a creative method. Instead, he is underlining that his interest lies in transformation, not replication. In effect, he is presenting Haiwaan as a film built on a familiar emotional core but redesigned for a different cinematic world.
Why The Akshay Kumar And Saif Ali Khan Reunion Matters
A large part of Haiwaan’s pre-release heat comes from the casting equation itself. Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan have shared screen space before, but a thriller directed by Priyadarshan gives the reunion a very different edge from their earlier collaborations. That combination has naturally fueled audience curiosity about tone, character dynamics and the kind of face-off the film may eventually deliver.
Public film listings currently identify Priyadarshan as director, with Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan headlining the cast. The film’s growing buzz has also been helped by the sense that Priyadarshan is returning to one of his strongest zones, a tension-driven narrative anchored by major stars.
Akshay Kumar’s Recent And Upcoming Work
For Akshay Kumar, Haiwaan continues a phase where his collaborations and theatrical choices have drawn renewed attention. His recent releases include Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh in 2025, while Haiwaan now stands among his confirmed 2026 theatrical projects. That makes Priyadarshan’s clarification especially relevant, because it reframes the film not as a recycled property, but as a fresh interpretation being positioned as a major star-led event.
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