Haiwaan Opens Soft, Falling Short of Akshay and Saif's Past Records

Priyadarshan's much-anticipated thriller Haiwaan, headlined by Bollywood heavyweights Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, stumbled out of the gate on its first day in theaters. The film's opening numbers landed well below the benchmark set by the actors' past solo and collaborative ventures, leaving industry watchers surprised and a bit concerned.

A Disappointing Debut

The opening day figures for Haiwaan fell short of expectations, especially given the star power involved. Both Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan have individually delivered strong opening numbers in the past, and their pairing had generated significant buzz. Yet, the initial turnout was tepid, signaling that something—perhaps the genre, marketing, or audience mood—didn’t quite connect.

Context and Comparisons

This isn’t the first time Priyadarshan has teamed up with major stars, but even his track record couldn’t buoy Haiwaan to a stronger start. The film’s performance is particularly notable when stacked against Kumar and Khan’s prior openings, which have often been robust. It raises questions about whether thriller fatigue is setting in or if audiences were waiting for word-of-mouth before committing.

What’s Next?

All eyes are now on the weekend numbers. A slow start doesn’t always spell disaster—some films gain momentum through positive reviews and strong audience reactions. But for Haiwaan to recover, it will need to show significant growth over the next few days, something that’s never easy after a soft opening.