Akshay Kumar on 'Haiwaan' psychopath role: Police friends shaped his prep
Synopsis
Akshay Kumar is playing a psychopath in 'Haiwaan' — and his preparation came not from a script coach but from police officers who have faced real ones. Their key lesson: real psychopaths don't make faces. They blend in. That single insight, backed by director Priyadarshan, turned Kumar's performance into one of studied stillness — a sharp break from Bollywood's usual villain playbook.
Key Takeaways
Akshay Kumar plays the primary antagonist — a psychopath — in 'Haiwaan' , opposite hero Saif Ali Khan .
Kumar's preparation was informed by friends in the police force who shared real-world observations about how psychopaths behave.
Key insight: real psychopaths blend in seamlessly rather than displaying exaggerated expressions, unlike typical film portrayals.
Director Priyadarshan reinforced this approach, instructing Kumar to avoid facial theatrics on screen. 'Haiwaan' is scheduled for release on 11 September .
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar has opened up about how real-world insights from his friends in the police force — and guidance from director Priyadarshan — shaped his portrayal of a psychopath in the upcoming thriller 'Haiwaan', set to release on 11 September. The actor made the revelations during an appearance on the quiz reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati.
The Character Dynamic
Kumar clarified his role on the show, stating: 'I am the villain of the film and Saif is the hero. My character is that of a psychopath, and there is a history behind it — how I turn into one and everything I go through — and then the film moves forward from there.' The admission marks a notable departure for the actor, widely associated with action-hero and patriotic roles, into full-fledged antagonist territory alongside co-star Saif Ali Khan.
What Police Officers Taught Him
Host Amitabh Bachchan pressed Kumar on how he prepared for such a psychologically demanding role. Kumar revealed that conversations with law-enforcement friends who had encountered real psychopaths fundamentally changed his approach. 'The way we show psychopaths in films, where they make different kinds of facial expressions — that isn't how it actually is. They don't do that at all because they want to blend in with us, and they blend in so well that nobody can tell what is going on in their minds,' he explained.
That insight, he said, became the cornerstone of his performance. Rather than leaning on conventional cinematic cues — wild eyes, exaggerated mannerisms — Kumar chose restraint. 'In this film, I am sitting quietly; Saif is doing more of the talking, and I am completely blended into the audience. That's how I got into the character,' he added.
Priyadarshan's Direction
Director Priyadarshan, who Kumar referred to affectionately as 'Priyan Sir', reinforced the same philosophy on set. According to Kumar, the director explicitly told him there was 'no need to make any facial expressions' — a creative call that pushed the performance toward stillness and ambiguity rather than overt menace. The approach aligns with contemporary psychological-thriller conventions, where the most unsettling antagonists are those who appear entirely ordinary.
About 'Haiwaan'
'Haiwaan' pairs Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in an apparent role-reversal dynamic, with Khan playing the hero and Kumar inhabiting the villain. The film is slated to hit screens on 11 September. Notably, this marks one of the rare instances in mainstream Bollywood where Kumar takes on a primary antagonist part, making the casting itself a significant talking point ahead of release.
Point of View
Hindi-film villains have been defined by excess: the sneer, the monologue, the theatrical menace. If 'Haiwaan' delivers on Kumar's described restraint, it could quietly shift audience expectations for what a Bollywood villain looks like. The bigger question is whether the film's commercial framing allows that subtlety to survive the trailer edit.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Akshay Kumar's role in 'Haiwaan'?
Akshay Kumar plays the primary villain — a psychopath — in 'Haiwaan', while Saif Ali Khan plays the hero. Kumar described the character as having a detailed backstory that explains how he becomes a psychopath.
How did Akshay Kumar prepare for the psychopath role?
Kumar drew on conversations with friends in the police force who had encountered real psychopaths. They told him that real psychopaths blend in rather than display exaggerated expressions, which shaped his restrained, low-key screen performance.
What did director Priyadarshan tell Akshay Kumar about the role?
Director Priyadarshan advised Kumar that there was no need for exaggerated facial expressions, reinforcing the understated approach Kumar had already begun developing from his police contacts.
When does 'Haiwaan' release?
'Haiwaan' is scheduled to release on 11 September.
Where did Akshay Kumar reveal these details about 'Haiwaan'?
Kumar made these revelations during an appearance on the quiz reality show Kaun Banega Crorepati, hosted by Amitabh Bachchan, who asked him about his preparation process for the antagonist role.
