Boman Irani Opens Up on Haiwaan and Priyadarshan Reunion

• Boman Irani is reuniting with director Priyadarshan after 12 years in Haiwaan.
• The actor said Priyadarshan had developed a familiar group of collaborators over the years.
• Haiwaan brings Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan together on screen after more than three decades.
• Boman said audiences will accept actors in different roles when the overall film and story work.
• Haiwaan is set for theatrical release on September 11 and is the official remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam film Oppam.

Boman Irani is returning to director Priyadarshan’s fold after a 12-year gap with Haiwaan, the upcoming thriller starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. In an interview, the actor reflected on their reunion, the comedy image associated with both him and Priyadarshan, and why audiences are willing to accept actors in unfamiliar roles when the film works.

Boman and Priyadarshan previously collaborated on Tezz, released in 2012. Asked why they had not worked together again for more than a decade, Boman said Priyadarshan had developed a close group of collaborators with whom he was comfortable.

“I think he had his own group of people whom he was comfortable with,” Boman said, comparing the situation to asking filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani why he had not worked with a particular actor. He described such creative partnerships as becoming “a family kind of situation” and said he had been led to believe that he was the first choice for his role in Haiwaan.

Boman Irani on Priyadarshan’s comedy image

The actor also addressed the perception that both he and Priyadarshan are primarily associated with comedy, despite their work across several genres.

“The comedy stamp always chases me,” Boman said.

Priyadarshan’s filmography includes action, romance, drama and thrillers alongside his widely recognised comedy films. Boman has similarly played a range of characters, but said the association with comedy continues to follow him.

His comments come as Haiwaan takes Priyadarshan into darker territory. The film features an ensemble cast including Boman, Akshay, Saif, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher.

Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan reunite

Haiwaan also marks the return of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan as co-stars after more than three decades. Their previous film together was Main Khiladi Tu Anari, released in 1994.

Akshay plays a darker character in the new film, prompting questions about whether audiences will readily accept the actor in a different kind of role. Boman argued that the quality of the film ultimately determines how audiences respond to casting and performances.

Using examples including his 3 Idiots character Virus and Sanjay Dutt’s role in Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., Boman said audiences accept performances that might otherwise seem unconventional when the story and execution are strong.

He applied the same reasoning to Akshay and Saif’s reunion, saying their performances would be accepted if the film succeeds on its own terms.

Haiwaan release date and connection to Oppam

Haiwaan is scheduled to release in theatres on September 11. The film is the official remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, which starred Mohanlal.

The new film marks Priyadarshan’s return to Bollywood filmmaking after a gap highlighted in the promotional discussions around Haiwaan. The director has also spoken about bringing Mohanlal into the new film for a cameo.

The project reunites Priyadarshan with Boman while pairing Akshay and Saif in a thriller that moves away from the comedy-heavy associations surrounding some of their earlier work.