Actor Boman Irani, who appears alongside Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in director Priyadarshan's upcoming action-crime thriller 'Haiwaan', says actors must constantly push themselves into unfamiliar territory — and believes audiences are in for a treat when the film releases on 11 September 2026.

Boman on Akshay's transformation

Boman admitted he did not witness Akshay's full on-screen transformation firsthand, as their shared scenes were limited. 'Unfortunately, I did not see. I was with Akshay in a scene, one scene, and that's all I had with him, and which was kind of a flashback, don't want to tell you much more. So for me, I did not have the pleasure of seeing that switch,' he said.

Despite the limited interaction on set, Boman expressed genuine enthusiasm about Akshay stepping into darker, unexplored character space. 'I am glad that you are finding it, that Akshay has in his career trajectory, taken up a role that he's never played before. I think one should always be doing roles that you have never played before,' he added.

Saif Ali Khan's unfamiliar ground

Boman extended the same sentiment to Saif Ali Khan, noting that the central heroic role Saif plays in 'Haiwaan' is also unlike anything he has done before. 'I think it's a blessing when you get an opportunity like this, for that matter even Saif probably never done this film before, a character like this before,' he said.

In 'Haiwaan', Akshay Kumar plays a darker, negative character — a notable departure from the action-hero roles he is best associated with — while Saif Ali Khan takes on the central heroic part, also a shift from his more recent screen personas.

A reunion years in the making

The film marks Akshay and Saif's reunion on the big screen after a string of earlier collaborations — 'Main Khiladi Tu Anari', 'Yeh Dillagi', 'Aarzoo', and 'Tashan'. The two have not shared screen space in a major theatrical release for years, making 'Haiwaan' a long-awaited pairing for fans of both actors.

Boman summed up the anticipation simply: 'I think we should be excited for actors, for heroes, for these two guys have been around for quite some time, to see a change. And I think this is an opportunity that we will all feel very happy.'

About 'Haiwaan'

Directed by Priyadarshan, 'Haiwaan' is an action-crime thriller with a cast that also includes Saiyami Kher and Shriya Pilgaonkar. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on 11 September 2026. Priyadarshan, known for blending sharp narrative with visual flair, returns to the big-budget thriller space with this project.

With two of Bollywood's most durable stars swapping their signature screen identities, 'Haiwaan' arrives as one of the more intriguing casting experiments of the year.