‘Haiwaan’ promises to showcase Akshay Kumar in one of his darkest roles in recent years, but the actor almost wasn’t part of the film. Filmmaker Priyadarshan has now revealed that that Akshay Kumar was not his original choice to play the antagonist. Bobby Deol was his first choice for the antagonist, while Akshaye Khanna and Suniel Shetty were also considered before the ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ actor unexpectedly stepped into the project. The director also shared why the upcoming film marks a significant departure from his recent string of comedy entertainers.
Bobby Deol was Priyadarshan’s first choice for ‘Haiwaan’
Speaking to Mid-day, Priyadarshan revealed that Bobby Deol was the first actor he approached to play the antagonist opposite Saif Ali Khan. Recalling the casting process, the filmmaker said, “When I narrated the film to Saif first, he asked me who would play the antagonist. I approached Bobby Deol, who wasn’t happy about his role, but I cannot blame him for that. I thought of Akshaye Khanna and told him that I wanted to narrate a story to him. He invited me over to meet him. I thought that if he refused, I would go to Suniel Shetty.”The director explained that several actors were considered before the role eventually went to Akshay Kumar.
How Akshay Kumar landed the role in ‘Haiwaan’
According to Priyadarshan, the casting took an unexpected turn while he was working with Akshay Kumar on ‘Bhooth Bangla’. Before meeting Akshaye Khanna, the filmmaker casually mentioned ‘Haiwaan’ to Akshay, who immediately showed interest in playing the antagonist.Priyadarshan recalled, “[Before I met Akshaye], I mentioned the film to Akshay casually while shooting for ‘Bhooth Bangla’. After I narrated the story to him, he told me, ‘Why can’t I do the movie?’”Initially, the director hadn’t imagined Akshay in the role because it contrasted sharply with the actor’s recent screen image.He explained, “Akshay loved the character. While we were shooting, Saif told me, ‘By doing this role against me, Akshay has given me the best gift’.”
Priyadarshan wanted to break Akshay’s recent image
In the same interview, Priyadarshan admitted that he had not originally envisioned Akshay Kumar as the film’s villain because audiences have recently associated the superstar with lighter, comedy-driven roles. However, Akshay’s enthusiasm for portraying a darker character convinced the filmmaker that he was the right choice. The role marks a significant shift for the actor, who will be seen in a gritty antagonist’s avatar opposite Saif Ali Khan.
‘Haiwaan’ is not a comedy, clarifies Priyadarshan
Despite Priyadarshan’s reputation for directing blockbuster comedies, the filmmaker clarified that Haiwaan belongs to a completely different genre.He said, “Some people have assumed Haiwaan is a comedy; it’s not. It’s about a cat-and-mouse game between the hunter and the hunted. I am returning to an action thriller after 16 years, and it’s one of the slickest movies I have ever made.”The director believes the film will showcase a fresh side of his filmmaking while delivering an intense action-thriller experience.
About ‘Haiwaan’
‘Haiwaan’ stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles and reunites Priyadarshan with both actors. The recently unveiled first-look posters presented the duo in rugged, intense avatars, hinting at a high-stakes battle between protagonist and antagonist.Unlike Priyadarshan’s recent comedy outings, ‘Haiwaan’ is positioned as a slick action thriller built around a tense cat-and-mouse chase between the hunter and the hunted. The film is expected to showcase Akshay Kumar in one of his most unconventional roles as a menacing antagonist, while Saif Ali Khan takes on the opposing lead. With its darker tone and action-driven narrative, Haiwaan marks Priyadarshan’s return to the thriller genre after nearly 16 years.
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