Priyadarshan‘s upcoming crime thriller ‘Haiwaan’, a remake of the Malayalam movie ‘Oppam’, brings Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan collectively in roles which might be very completely different from their traditional display screen appearances. The director has now revealed how Akshay Kumar got here on board because the antagonist. He additionally recalled why each Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan initially discovered the casting tough to consider.The movie marks one other collaboration between Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar. The duo has beforehand labored collectively on films equivalent to ‘Hera Pheri’ and ‘Khatta Meetha’. They reunited after a protracted hole with ‘Bhooth Bangla’. It was throughout the making of that film that Akshay Kumar expressed curiosity in Priyadarshan’s subsequent challenge.
Akshay Kumar wished to play the antagonist
In line with Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar himself instructed that he may tackle the destructive position in ‘Haiwaan’. Nevertheless, the filmmaker didn’t instantly take the proposal severely. He believed Akshay Kumar might be pulling one other prank.“He has a behavior of joking and pranking. So, when he stated sure, I assumed he was fooling me. I ignored and forgot about the entire dialog. That night when he was leaving, he requested me, ‘Sir, did you contemplate what I advised you?’ I requested him if he was critical about doing the movie, and he stated sure,” Priyadarshan advised News18. The filmmaker stated Akshay Kumar’s status for humour made him not sure in regards to the actor’s intentions. He solely realised that Akshay Kumar was critical when the actor adopted up on the dialog later that day.
Saif Ali Khan additionally thought it was a joke
Saif Ali Khan was already locked for the central position when Akshay Kumar expressed curiosity in taking part in the antagonist. Priyadarshan revealed that Saif Ali Khan additionally struggled to consider the information.“Once I advised Saif that Akshay desires to play the antagonist, he didn’t consider it. He thought I used to be joking. He wished to fulfill Akshay and listen to it from the horse’s mouth.” Priyadarshan confirmed that Saif Ali Khan was finalised first. The actor was drawn to the chance to play a visually impaired character. He additionally wished to painting a job he had by no means tried earlier than. “No. Saif was locked first. He wished to play a blind man as he had by no means performed it earlier than in his profession. He’s the primary protagonist of the movie,” states Priyadarshan.
Different actors had rejected the villain’s position
Akshay Kumar’s choice turned much more stunning as a result of Priyadarshan had already approached a number of different actors for the antagonist’s half. Nevertheless, they declined the position. “I had approached actors not as huge as Akshay, who refused this position. It’s their drawback that they turned it down. I by no means requested them why. So, naturally, I assumed Akshay additionally wouldn’t settle for this character,” he says. The filmmaker stated this expertise made him assume that Akshay Kumar would additionally reject the half.
Akshay Kumar takes on a unique facet
Priyadarshan believes each Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are exploring characters they haven’t performed earlier than. The director stated the roles allowed him to current each actors in a unique mild. “My two heroes are doing roles in Haiwaan they’ve by no means performed earlier than,” he says. Priyadarshan additionally highlighted the completely different sorts of characters Akshay Kumar has taken up lately. “They haven’t performed too many destructive roles. Even when they did, their characters in Haiwaan are one thing they haven’t tried their palms at earlier than. I noticed each of them in a unique mild. For instance, I’ve been working with Akshay for therefore a few years now, however I’m seeing a unique model of him in his final seven-eight movies. That’s why I skilled some thrilling moments throughout the shoot,” he provides.
‘Haiwaan’ launch date and solid
‘Haiwaan’ is directed by Priyadarshan and is scheduled to launch on September 11, 2026. The Hindi-language crime thriller is an official remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam film ‘Oppam’. The story follows a blind martial artist who turns into concerned in defending a younger woman from a harmful psychopath. Saif Ali Khan performs the blind protagonist, whereas Akshay Kumar portrays the antagonist. The solid additionally options Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher. Malayalam celebrity Mohanlal can be set to make a cameo look.
