Best known for his signature comedies over the past few decades, Priyadarshan is going back to hard-hitting drama with Haiwaan, marking a fresh creative phase in his Hindi filmography. While his early career features gritty titles such as Gardish and Virasat, the massive success of Hera Pheri largely steered his focus towards the comedy genre for years to come.
Explaining why he made the upcoming film, a remake of his own Malayalam title Oppam, starring Mohanlal, the filmmaker said, “Haiwaan is the beginning of a new chapter for me. I started with serious films like Gardish, Virasat, but after Hera Pheri, I was pulled into this track of comedy films. I needed a break, so I thought of this film."
The Oppam remake comes shortly after the release of Priyadarshan's own Bhooth Bangla, which earned negative to mixed reviews but is considered a hit.
Priyadarshan attributed the success of Bhoot Bangla to the lack of comedies at the time of its release. He said, "There were so many films which are too serious like Dhurandhar, Border 2, and Bhooth Bangla came as a sudden relief, because people like to watch different kinds of movies at different times." He added, "Now, I feel that people have been continuously watching a lot of comedy-oriented films, so I think a thriller has a scope.”
Featuring a star-studded cast, including Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan—along with Boman Irani, Saiyami Kher, Shriya Pilgaonkar, and Mohanlal—the upcoming release promises a moody, high-stakes mystery thriller. The film is generating significant anticipation ahead of its theatrical release.
The Priyadarshan directorial venture is backed by producers Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn under the banners of KVN Productions and Thespian Films. It is scheduled for a global theatrical rollout on September 11, Friday.
