Priyadarshan Praises Saif Ali Khan’s Approach to Haiwaan, Calls Him a “Mature Child”

Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan has shared an interesting glimpse into his experience of working with Saif Ali Khan for the first time. The director, who is currently gearing up for his upcoming thriller Haiwaan, spoke warmly about the actor’s attitude on set and his involvement in understanding the character.

According to Priyadarshan, Saif brought a strong sense of curiosity to the project. Rather than simply following instructions, the actor regularly sought clarity about his character, scenes and the director’s vision. The filmmaker said this quality stood out during their collaboration and eventually helped build mutual confidence between the two.

Priyadarshan affectionately described Saif as a “mature child,” highlighting the combination of his experience as an actor and his eagerness to keep asking questions. The director’s comments offer an insight into how the actor approached a demanding role in a thriller that requires a different kind of performance.

Saif’s Questions Helped Build Understanding

Priyadarshan revealed that Saif would frequently begin his day on the sets by discussing various aspects of the scenes with him. His questions were focused on understanding what the character needed to do and how particular moments were expected to play out.

For Priyadarshan, that kind of interaction became an important part of their working relationship. Instead of viewing the questions as an obstacle, the filmmaker saw them as evidence of Saif’s commitment to getting the performance right.

The director explained that once the questions were answered, Saif would follow his instructions without hesitation. Over time, the repeated discussions became less necessary because the actor had developed a clear understanding of what Priyadarshan wanted from the scenes.

This process eventually created a stronger level of trust between the filmmaker and actor. It also helped the two establish an effective working rhythm despite this being their first movie together.

Haiwaan Brings Priyadarshan and Saif Together

Haiwaan is particularly significant because it marks the first collaboration between Priyadarshan and Saif Ali Khan. The project also brings Saif together with Akshay Kumar again, nearly 17 years after their previous collaboration.

The film is based on Priyadarshan’s acclaimed Malayalam thriller Oppam. However, the Hindi project features its own cast and presentation, with Saif taking on the role of a visually impaired man.

Akshay Kumar, meanwhile, is set to appear in a negative role. The contrasting characters of the two leading actors have become one of the major talking points surrounding the film.

A Different Side of Saif

Saif Ali Khan has worked across a wide range of genres and characters during his career, but Haiwaan presents an opportunity for him to explore a particularly challenging dramatic space. Playing a visually impaired character in a thriller requires an actor to communicate through performance, movement and reactions while maintaining the suspense surrounding the story.

Priyadarshan’s comments suggest that Saif approached the role with considerable attention to detail. His habit of questioning the director about the character and scenes indicates that he wanted to understand the creative reasoning behind the performance rather than merely execute the instructions.

The filmmaker’s appreciation also adds an interesting dimension to the anticipation surrounding the movie. While audiences will ultimately judge Saif’s performance on screen, Priyadarshan’s observations indicate that the actor was deeply engaged with the filmmaking process.

Reunion With Akshay Kumar Adds Interest

The reunion of Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar is another major attraction for Haiwaan. The two actors have previously shared screen space, and their return together after a long gap has generated additional curiosity around the thriller.

Their new characters are also markedly different from the light-hearted combinations audiences may associate with their earlier collaborations. With Akshay taking on a negative role and Saif portraying a visually impaired protagonist, the film appears to be moving them into a darker dramatic setting.

Priyadarshan, known for working across multiple genres and Indian film industries, is returning with a thriller that combines familiar stars with unconventional roles.

For Saif, the project represents not only a new collaboration with an established filmmaker but also an opportunity to present another side of his acting abilities. Priyadarshan’s praise for his preparation and curiosity has now added another layer of interest ahead of the film’s release.

With Haiwaan bringing together Priyadarshan, Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar, expectations are building around how the trio’s first major collaboration in this thriller will translate to the big screen.