Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s latest thriller has sparked positive reactions online with viewers praising its intense drama and entertaining moments.
Share Article
https://www.india.com/entertainment/bollywood/haiwaan-twitter-review-priyadarshans-film-impresses-audiences-with-akshay-kumar-saif-ali-khans-high-stakes-clash-netizens-hail-it-as-paisa-vasool-entertainer-8521768/
Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan’s intense showdown leaves audiences impressed (PC: Twitter)
The wait is finally over for fans of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan as the two actors return to the big screen together after 2008’s TashanTheir latest collaboration, Haiwaan, brings them into a very different world, with director Priyadarshan moving away from his familiar comic territory to explore a dark and gritty thrillerThe film has arrived in theatres today and has already generated curiosity because of its unusual pairing, serious tone and mystery-driven storyWith Akshay stepping into a negative role and Saif playing a visually impaired protagonist, Haiwaan promises a very different kind of face-off between the two stars.
Haiwaan Twitter review sparks positive reactions
Early reactions to Haiwaan on social media have largely been positive, with several viewers calling the film an entertaining big-screen experienceOne of the most repeated sentiments is that the Akshay-Saif face-off gives the thriller its biggest strength.
Read more:
Haiwaan movie review: Priyadarshan builds tense thriller around Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan
Some viewers have described Haiwaan as a “paisa vasool mass entertainer”, praising the high-stakes confrontation between its two leading actorsThe reactions suggest that the film manages to combine suspense with commercial elements while keeping the central conflict engaging.
Another viewer praised the contrast between the two performances, calling Akshay’s character genuinely menacing while highlighting Saif’s restrained approachThe reaction also appreciated Priyadarshan’s cat-and-mouse treatment but felt that the second half could have been tighterThe film’s 2-hour-44-minute runtime was also described as slightly stretched in places.
A separate reaction praised the way Haiwaan balances thriller elements with drama, emotion and commercial entertainmentThe twists, confrontations and emotional moments were highlighted as factors that help keep the narrative moving.
See twitter users reactions on Haiwaan here
#Haiwaan: MASTERSTROKE
Rating: ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ #HaiwaanReview
HAIWAAN is genuinely a masterstrokeDirector #Priyadarshan reinvents himself and how! And the reinvention spreads through every member of the cast#AkshayKumar embraces the darker side of his character with… pic.twitter.com/Xev3cscFPJ
— Abhishek (@vicharabhio) September 11, 2026
#HaiwaanReview: ENGAGING
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5#Haiwaan beautifully balances thriller, drama, emotion and commercial entertainment.keeping the narrative engaging with twists, confrontations and emotional beats.
The film gives us an interesting “Khilaadi vs Anaadi” dynamic.both… pic.twitter.com/5XRcEtBVRW
— Ravi Gupta (@FilmiHindustani) September 11, 2026
#HaiwaanReview – INTRIGUING THRILLER!
Rating :- ⭐️⭐️⭐️½#Haiwaan is a PRETTY INTRIGUING Thriller that works mostly for its POWERFUL PERFORMANCES by #SaifAliKhan & #AkshayKumar, excellent cinematographic visuals throughout, and the tense atmosphere till the Climax.
The First… pic.twitter.com/bbWsDwwlua
— CineHub (@Its_CineHub) September 11, 2026
⭐ 3.5/5
Haiwaan is proof that a strong villain can still make a thriller work.
Akshay Kumar is genuinely menacing in a dark, unpredictable role, while Saif Ali Khan delivers a restrained and layered performance as a blind protagonist.
Priyadarshan keeps the suspense… pic.twitter.com/QVjP8ioNtb
— Naman Sharma (@YourNaman) September 11, 2026
#Haiwaan is a total paisa vasool mass entertainer! Audiences are loving the intense, high-stakes showdown between Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in theaters today✨
#SaifAliKhan pic.twitter.com/ojEzyOeQJy
— sushil kadam (@imsushilkadam) September 11, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are many factors that make HAIWAAN the most intense film of 2026 so farForemost, the frames that are brought to life by #DivakarManiThe chilling and haunting BGM by #RonnieRaphaelAnd most crucially, the restrained yet rousing… pic.twitter.com/vU0Yy0AyvE
— Siddharth Mathur (@TheSidMathur) September 11, 2026
Enjoyed watching #Haiwaan!
Saif Ali Khan as the hero was impressive, while Akshay Kumar as the villain absolutely nailed his roleThe face-off between the two is definitely a treat for fans.
The movie could have been around 15 minutes shorter, but overall, it’s an engaging…
— Ishika (@Sanskari_Girll) September 11, 2026
HAIWAAN — ⭐️⭐️⭐️½#Haiwaan is a dark and unpredictable thriller that sets the mood right from the beginningPriyadarshan brings a serious atmosphere, while @akshaykumar stands out with a restrained and unsettling performance.
Saif Ali Khan adds a strong emotional layer, and… pic.twitter.com/BGbkTQPZYC
— Let’s X OTT GLOBAL (@LetsXOtt) September 11, 2026
Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan create an unusual dynamic
The central attraction of Haiwaan is the contrast between Akshay Kumar’s Parshuram and Saif Ali Khan’s ShyamThe film creates an interesting dynamic between the two characters, with their abilities and motivations putting them on opposite sides of the conflict.
Saif plays Shyam, a visually impaired caretaker who works as a maintenance manager in a high-profile residential societyDespite his disability, Shyam has an extraordinary ability to observe his surroundings and understand situations through his other senses.
Early reactions have particularly praised Saif for making the character’s vulnerability and intelligence believableHis body language, gestures and controlled performance reportedly help establish Shyam as someone who may not be able to see but can still understand far more than people expect.
Akshay, meanwhile, takes on a darker role as ParshuramHis performance has emerged as one of the most discussed aspects of the filmRather than relying only on loud or aggressive moments, he reportedly uses controlled expressions and calculated behaviour to make the character intimidatingThe contrast between Saif’s restrained protagonist and Akshay’s menacing antagonist gives the film much of its dramatic tension.
Priyadarshan gets praise for a darker approach
The early reactions also have plenty of appreciation for Priyadarshan’s directionViewers have described the film as a departure from the director’s more familiar style and praised his attempt to create something darker and unconventional.
His approach to suspense appears to rely on atmosphere, anticipation and gradual revelations rather than constantly pushing actionThe cat-and-mouse structure gives the two lead actors enough space to build their characters and keeps the conflict at the centre.
Some viewers have even called the film a strong reinvention for Priyadarshan, particularly because of the serious tone and the way he handles the performancesThe technical elements have also received appreciation, with the background score adding to the tension and helping establish the thriller mood.
What is Haiwaan about?
Haiwaan revolves around Shyam, whose life takes an unexpected turn when he becomes involved in a dangerous situation surrounding a murder case and a young girl named NandiniThe retired judge, played by Boman Irani, trusts Shyam with the responsibility of protecting the girl while keeping her identity and the truth surrounding her hiddenHowever, Parshuram is also searching for Nandini.
The reason behind this search forms an important part of the mystery and is best discovered while watching the filmAs Shyam tries to deal with the situation, the story develops into a tense game involving secrets, confrontations and shifting dangers.
Mohanlal’s cameo and Oppam connection
For the unversed, Haiwaan is the Hindi remake of Mohanlal‘s 2016 Malayalam film OppamMohanlal also makes a special cameo in the new film, adding another interesting connection to the originalHis appearance is a treat for fans and gives the remake an added layer of nostalgia.
Supporting cast and Asrani’s final film
The film also features Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Sharib Hashmi, Rajpal Yadav, Rajesh Sharma, Manoj Joshi and Pahal Chaudhary in supporting rolesEarly reactions suggest that the supporting cast fits effectively into the film’s larger mystery.
Late actor Asrani is also part of Haiwaan, making his appearance particularly significantHis presence brings a sense of nostalgia as the film marks his final screen outingViewers have noted that he adds moments of warmth and humour to an otherwise tense narrative.