‘Haiwaan’ promises to show Akshay Kumar in one of his darkest roles in recent years, but the actor was not part of the film. A film producer Priyadarshan has now revealed that Akshay Kumar was not his first choice to play the antagonist. Bobby Deol it was his first choice for the opposition, right Akshaye Khanna and Suniel Shetty It was also considered before the ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ actor unexpectedly joined the project. The director also shared why the upcoming film marks a departure from his recent troupe of comedy entertainers.
Bobby Deol was Priyadarshan’s first choice for ‘Haiwaan’
Speaking to Mid-day, Priyadarshan revealed that Bobby Deol was the first actor approached to play the antagonist. Saif Ali Khan. Recalling how he viewed the film, the filmmaker said: “When I first explained the film to Saif, he asked me who would play the role in the film. I thought of Akshaye Khanna and told him that I want to tell him a story. He invited me to meet him. I thought if he refuses, I will go to Suniel Shetty.”The director explained that several actors were considered before the role went to Akshay Kumar.
How Akshay Kumar landed a role in “Haiwaan”
According to Priyadarshan, casting took an unexpected turn when he worked with Akshay Kumar on ‘Bhooth Bangla’. Before meeting Akshaye Khanna, the filmmaker referred to Akshay as ‘Haiwaan’, who immediately expressed interest in playing the antagonist.Priyadarshan recalled, “[Before I met Akshaye]I mentioned this film to Akshay randomly while shooting for ‘Bhooth Bangla’. When I told him the story, he said, ‘Why can’t I do this film?’”Initially, the director did not think of Akshay as it was very different from the actor’s latest image.He explained, “Akshay loved the character. While we were shooting, Saif told me, ‘By doing this role against me, Akshay has given me a great gift’.”
Priyadarshan wanted to break the latest picture of Akshay
In the same interview, Priyadarshan admitted that he had never considered Akshay Kumar as the lead actor for the film as the audience would only associate the star with light-hearted, comedy-driven roles. However, Akshay’s interest in portraying a black character made the actor make the right choice. The role marks a major change for the actor, who will be seen in an avatar opposite Saif Ali Khan.
‘Haiwaan’ is not a joke, explains Priyadarshan
Despite Priyadarshan’s track record of directing blockbuster films, the filmmaker explained that Haiwaan is of a different genre.He said, “Some people think Haiwaan is a comedy; it’s not. It’s a cat-and-mouse game between the hunter and the hunted. I’m coming back to the comedy after 16 years, and it’s one of the silliest films I’ve ever made.”The director is confident that the film will show another part of his filmmaking career as he showcases some of the most spectacular scenes.
About ‘Haiwaan’
“Haiwaan” stars Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in the lead roles and reunites Priyadarshan with all the actors. The recently revealed images showed the two in tough, powerful avatars, showing the epic battle between the protagonist and the antagonist.Unlike Priyadarshan’s recent comedies, ‘Haiwaan’ is more of a thriller built around a cat-and-mouse chase between the hunter and the hunted. The film is expected to feature Akshay Kumar in one of his most controversial roles, with Saif Ali Khan in the lead role. With its dark tone and action-driven narrative, Haiwaan marks Priyadarshan’s return to the entertainment genre after nearly 16 years.