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Exclusive| Akshay Kumar on his first look from Haiwaan: My character has no grey shades, he is out and out evil

In Haiwaan, actor Akshay Kumar teams up with director Priyadarshan to explore a darker character, contrasting their previous comedy hits.

Published on: Aug 12, 2026, 09:00:37 IST
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Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan together is a combo that can never go wrong. Their track record so far has been impeccable, with multiple comedy hits to their credit. But with their next, Haiwaan, both are venturing into a different territory. This time, Akshay gears up to deliver a no-holds-barred antagonist in the thriller, whose teaser drops today.

Akshay Kumar's exclusive look from Haiwaan.
Akshay Kumar's exclusive look from Haiwaan.

His character’s raw look has been designed keeping the same in mind. Talking to us, Akshay says, “As the title goes, I am playing Haiwaan and my character has no grey shades, he’s out and out evil. I always wanted to play a psycho on-screen. With my last four-five films, I have tried to switch between completely different genres: comedy, horror, action, drama. This is my first time playing evil in the truest sense. I like to constantly challenge myself and Haiwaan is that challenge for me.”

Akshay Kumar sports a raw new avatar — a beanie, a hairy chest — bucking Bollywood’s clean-chested aesthetic
Akshay Kumar sports a raw new avatar — a beanie, a hairy chest — bucking Bollywood’s clean-chested aesthetic

Director Priyadarshan adds, “I saw Akshay casually wearing the beanie one day at the shoot of Bhooth Bangla, and I immediately liked the look. Him wearing it in Haiwaan was my idea. I remember I was narrating the story of Haiwaan to him one day, knowing he will not do it, and asked who does he think would do the role. I was shocked when he asked me ‘Can I do it?’ I also then thought I would have a different Akshay Kumar in my film, it will be a chance to see an actor’s potential.”

Haiwaan, releasing in theatres on September 11, co-stars Saif Ali Khan alongside Akshay Kumar, apart from Saiyami Kher and Shriya Pilgaonkar. Priyadarshan and Akshay, earlier this year, had delivered a hit in the form of the horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla. The actor followed it up with another success, Welcome To The Jungle.

  • Rishabh Suri
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Rishabh Suri

    Rishabh Suri is an Assistant Editor, film critic, and professional overthinker of plot points. He writes for HT City, keeping pace with an industry where news cycles expire long before the popcorn gets cold. He completed his graduation in English Honours from Kirori Mal College, followed by a Master’s degree in English Literature-effectively training his brain to over-analyse classic texts before applying those exact same skills to 3-hour Bollywood blockbusters. He got into the profession when he had barely graduated from college and has been at HT ever since. At HT, Rishabh reviews films with a simple rule: skip the dense academic jargon and get straight to the point. Beyond reviews, as Assistant Editor, he helps navigate the broader circus of showbiz, tracking everything from OTT shifts to sudden box office panics. In a beat driven by loud PR machinery and carefully scripted answers, Rishabh prefers cutting through the noise to focus on how stories get made and why trends shift. When he isn’t writing against a deadline, he is usually sitting in a dark theater, compulsively memorising dialogues. For Rishabh, analysing movies isn't just a day job- it’s a habit he couldn't turn off even if he tried.Read More