By Haiwaan box office collection has started on a disappointing note, with the Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan-starrer earning roughly ₹2.6–₹3 crore net in India on its opening day, according to early trade estimates. The Priyadarshan-directed thriller arrived in theatres on September 11, 2026, but struggled to attract strong crowds despite the reunion of two popular Bollywood stars.
The film is also facing serious competition from movies that are already performing strongly at the box office. Mirzapur: The Movie continues to hold audience attention in its second week, while Hanuman Ansh remains another major draw. This crowded theatrical landscape has made the opening weekend particularly important for Haiwaan.
Haiwaan opens with a slow box office response
The opening-day numbers are considerably lower than what would normally be expected from a film featuring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan together.
According to Hindustan Times, Haiwaan collected approximately ₹2.58 crore net in India on Friday, with reported occupancy of around 11% across more than 7,000 shows.
Times of India, using early Sacnilk estimates, placed the India net collection at around ₹3 crore, with approximately ₹3.60 crore gross from India and another ₹1 crore from overseas, taking the estimated worldwide gross to around ₹4.60 crore.
Another trade tracker, Bollywood Hungama, currently lists the opening day at ₹2.80 crore in India.
The minor differences are normal with early box-office estimates, but all the figures point toward the same conclusion: Haiwaan has opened slowly.
Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan reunion fails to create a big opening
One of the biggest selling points of Haiwaan was the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan.
The actors have previously worked together in films including Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi, Tu Chor Main Sipahi, Keemat, Aarzoo and Tashan. Their latest collaboration comes after a long gap, creating considerable curiosity among Bollywood audiences.
However, the reunion alone has not translated into a strong first-day theatrical response.
The film also represents a different kind of collaboration between Akshay and director Priyadarshan. Instead of another comedy, Priyadarshan has placed Akshay in a darker role within a crime thriller.
Priyadarshan returns with a thriller
Haiwaan is directed by Priyadarshan, who is known for some of Bollywood’s most successful comedy films.
This time, however, the filmmaker has moved into a much darker space.
The movie is a Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s own Malayalam film Oppam, which originally starred Mohanlal. The story follows a blind caretaker who becomes entangled in a dangerous murder case and must protect a young woman while being pursued by a ruthless killer.
The director has explained that he deliberately wanted to present Akshay Kumar differently this time.
Rather than repeating their familiar comedy formula, Priyadarshan saw Haiwaan as an opportunity to explore the actor in a darker and more serious role.
Akshay Kumar plays a darker character
Akshay Kumar’s role is one of the film’s major talking points.
Audiences are accustomed to seeing Akshay in action, comedy and socially themed films, but Haiwaan presents him in a considerably different shade.
His character is connected to the film’s central conflict and is positioned against Saif Ali Khan’s protagonist.
The contrast between the two actors was expected to become one of the film’s major attractions. However, the initial box-office numbers suggest that the concept has not yet translated into a strong opening.
The weekend will therefore be crucial for determining whether positive word of mouth can change the situation.
Saif Ali Khan gets the central role
While Akshay Kumar’s presence has been heavily emphasized in the promotions, Saif Ali Khan plays the central protagonist in the story.
Saif plays a blind caretaker who becomes involved in a dangerous situation after being framed for a murder. He must escape the police while simultaneously trying to protect the person at the centre of the conflict.
The role gives Saif an opportunity to carry much of the film’s emotional and thriller-driven material.
The film also stars Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher in important roles, while Malayalam superstar Mohanlal makes a special appearance.
Competition is hurting Haiwaan
One of the biggest challenges for Haiwaan is the crowded box office.
Mirzapur: The Movie entered its second week with strong momentum and continues to attract audiences. TOI reported that the film was estimated to collect around ₹9 crore on its second Friday, taking its India total to approximately ₹157.45 crore at that point.
Meanwhile, Hanuman Ansh is also continuing its successful theatrical run.
This means Haiwaan is not entering an empty marketplace. Audiences already have established choices, and a new film has to offer a compelling reason for viewers to switch.
The competition is particularly challenging for a thriller that did not arrive with extremely strong advance-booking momentum.
Reviews could decide the weekend
The film’s opening weekend will now depend heavily on audience response.
Hindustan Times described the movie as having an interesting thriller premise but criticized its inconsistent writing, lengthy journey toward the climax and several logical gaps.
That kind of mixed response could make it difficult for Haiwaan to generate strong word of mouth.
At the same time, the film does have some potential advantages. The Akshay-Saif combination, Priyadarshan’s reputation and the thriller genre could help the movie improve during Saturday and Sunday if audiences respond positively.
Can Haiwaan recover over the weekend?
The opening day is certainly disappointing, but the box office story is not finished yet.
A strong Saturday and Sunday could give Haiwaan some breathing room. The film needs a significant jump from its opening-day numbers to establish a sustainable theatrical run.
The immediate target will be to move beyond the ₹3 crore range and demonstrate that there is genuine audience interest outside the initial Friday footfalls.
If the weekend fails to show substantial growth, however, the movie could face a difficult theatrical journey.
The budget makes the opening more concerning
Reports have placed the film’s production budget in the range of approximately ₹100–115 crore, although the makers have not officially announced the exact figure.
Against such a reported investment, an opening of around ₹3 crore net is clearly underwhelming.
Some reports have also suggested that a significant portion of the investment may have already been recovered through non-theatrical rights, but those figures have not been officially confirmed.
Therefore, the theatrical performance remains important for determining how successful the film ultimately becomes.
The final word
The Haiwaan box office collection on Day 1 has delivered a clear warning sign.
The Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan reunion, combined with Priyadarshan’s return to the thriller genre, was expected to create stronger theatrical interest. Instead, early estimates place the film’s India net opening in the ₹2.6–₹3 crore range, with the exact figure varying slightly between trackers.
The film now has the entire weekend to change its trajectory.
With Mirzapur: The Movie and Hanuman Ansh continuing to dominate audience attention, Haiwaan needs strong word of mouth and a major jump in collections to stay competitive.
