Why Akshay Kumar chose to play villain opposite Saif Ali Khan in Haiwaan: ‘A huge relief’

Akshay Kumar will portray the villain in Priyadarshan’s upcoming film Haiwaan, a departure from his usual leading roles. The actor, who has often played heroes in his films, found the prospect of playing a negative character a "huge relief." He expressed his fascination with villains, stating that they allow him to portray more interesting characters than heroes.

Akshay praised Priyadarshan for rekindling his enthusiasm for work, calling him "medicine for the working side of my soul." The film will see Akshay and Saif Ali Khan play opposite roles, a reunion after their last collaboration in Tashan in 2008. Akshay expressed his admiration for Priyadarshan's versatility as a director, praising his ability to handle both light and dark themes.

He was drawn to Haiwaan because it would allow him to surprise audiences with his new role. Akshay also spoke about his comfort with multi-starrers, stating that he sees no reason for insecurities when working alongside other actors, as it makes for a more complete scene.