Saif Ali Khan is gearing up for the release of Haiwaan, where he reunites with Akshay Kumar in Priyadarshan’s upcoming thriller. Scheduled to hit theatres on September 11, 2026, the film features Saif in one of the most physically demanding roles of his career—a visually impaired man with extraordinary instincts.
Opening up about the role, Saif described his character as an “Indian version of a blind samurai,” calling it one of the most exciting opportunities he has received as an actor.
“It’s one of the most amazing roles I’ve been offered because it’s such a sympathetic character. In my head, I get to play an Indian version of a blind samurai. How cool is that? He’s blind, but he’s specially-abled. He can somehow sense things, fight, catch a ball, and protect a young girl. It was fascinating to find the physicality of that without making it look exaggerated,” Saif shared in a recent interview.
The actor also reflected on his first collaboration with veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, praising the director’s confidence and efficient style of filmmaking.
“It was something completely new for me. More importantly, it’s a character written for the audience to genuinely feel for, which I haven’t really had much of, for whatever reason. I’m really happy I got this role. Working with Priyadarshan sir was amazing. It reminded me of Clint Eastwood. Very economical and absolutely sure of what he wanted. We rarely did more than one take. I like doing a few takes, but you adapt to whoever you’re working with. It was interesting to be completely ready for that very first take, and somehow it really worked,” Saif said.
Haiwaan marks the on-screen reunion of Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar after several years, but unlike their earlier collaborations, the film promises a dark, action-driven narrative. Directed by Priyadarshan, the thriller is set for a theatrical release on September 11, 2026.
