Filmmaker Priyadarshan has officially announced that Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan will team up once again for his next film Haiwaan. The news puts an end to months of speculation and marks the duo’s on-screen reunion after 17 years. They were last seen together in Tashan, which released in 2008.
The director made the announcement via Instagram with a candid photo of the actors at Lord’s Cricket Stadium in London, where they were attending the India vs England Test match. In the picture, Saif is seen watching the match while Akshay, dressed in a beige blazer, stands next to him in conversation. Priyadarshan captioned the photo with: “Haiwaan – my next film with @akshaykumar and Saif Ali Khan at Lord’s.”
According to reports, Haiwaan is the Hindi adaptation of the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, originally starring Mohanlal. The Hindi version is expected to begin filming in August and is targeting a 2026 theatrical release. Interestingly, Akshay is expected to play the negative lead, which adds a new layer of intrigue to the project.
Fans quickly reacted to the announcement with enthusiasm. Several expressed their excitement in the comments, with one user hoping to see Akshay in a bold new look. Another fan requested a “never-seen-before bearded look of a psycho killer,” adding to the growing buzz around the film.