When Priyadarshan’s newest film, ‘Haiwaan’, slipped into theaters on September 11, the buzz was already tinged with skepticism. The trailer promised a black‑comedy twist on the action‑packed pairings of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, but the opening day receipts were a modest ₹15.08 crore, a stark contrast to the ₹100 crore-plus openings that once felt routine for the veteran director.
In an interview with HT, the 48‑year‑old director shrugged off the numbers, saying failures are part of the game. ‘I’ve seen enough hits and flops in 98 films to know the pattern,’ he remarked, adding that the box‑office stumble is no reason to abandon experimentation.
Priyadarshan also reminded readers that his Hindi persona is still tied to comedy, a label cemented by the 2000 hit ‘Hera Pheri’. ‘After that, people expect a laugh track,’ he said, noting that earlier successes like ‘Gardish’ and ‘Virasat’ were more grounded, but the public now sees him through a comedic lens.
Despite the dip, the director’s partnership with Akshay Kumar remains intact. Two new projects— a comedy slated to start shooting in January 2027 and a “Bhoot Police 2” thriller—are already in the pipeline, both backed by Ramesh Taurani. The duo’s track record, spanning hits like ‘Garam Masala’ and ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’, suggests the relationship is far from over.
‘Haiwaan’ may have faltered, but it also signals that even a 48‑year career can’t be pinned down by a single genre. Priyadarshan’s vow to keep experimenting, especially in regional cinema, hints at a fresh chapter where creative risks might finally pay off.