Every once in a while, a movie comes along that promises everything a good entertainer should, a strong star cast, an amazing trailer, an edge-of-the-seat thriller storyline, and a chance to see your favorite actors in new avatars. Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan's new movie, Haiwaan, promised just that. Unfortunately, whilst currently in theaters, it has been struggling at the box office and has received some mixed reactions since its release on September 11.
The film is directed by Priyadarshan and is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam hit Oppam, which stars Mohanlal in the lead. The original followed a blind lift operator who gets dragged into a murder investigation and has to protect a little girl while trying to clear his own name. In this version, Saif steps into that role, the vulnerable, visually impaired man at the center of it all - while Akshay does something we rarely see from him and plays the villain. It's a real gear shift for both actors, which is probably why the trailer landed the way it did. Generating a lot of buzz
This film doesn't just bring Akshay and Saif together after nearly two decades, it also marks the return of the Akshay-Priyadarshan director-actor duo after their film Bhoot Bhangla earlier this year. Akshay and Saif last worked together in Tashan back in 2008, and before that in films like Main Khiladi Tu Anari and Yeh Dillagi. So this pairing alone was enough to get people talking, even before anyone knew what the movie was about. Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher, and Shriya Pilgaonkar round out the supporting cast.
Haiwaan hit theatres on September 11, 2026, with the makers clearly timing the release around the Ganesh Chaturthi break.
Unfortunately, the film isn't currently available to stream and remains a theatres-only watch for now. But reports suggest it will eventually land on the OTT platform SonyLIV. The film's digital and satellite rights reportedly went to Sony Pictures Networks India in a deal said to be worth close to ₹80 crore.
Bollywood films usually take somewhere between six and eight weeks to move from theatres to streaming. We can assume that it will go live between mid- to late October. Though nothing's been officially confirmed yet. Until then, if you want to see Akshay and Saif go head to head, the cinema's your only option.
When was Haiwaan released in theatres?
Haiwaan was released in theatres on September 11, 2026
Where can I watch Haiwaan online?
Haiwaan is not currently available on OTT. Reports suggest that the film will eventually stream on SonyLIV.
Is Haiwaan a remake?
Yes, Haiwaan is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, starring Mohanlal.