The Hindi crime thriller Haiwaan has collapsed at the box office, and the numbers tell a brutal story. Released on September 11, 2026, the Priyadarshan-directed film has registered what trade analysts are calling disaster-level collections, with no sign of recovery in its second week. For Akshay Kumar, who headlines the ensemble as Parshuram, the film now stands as the biggest failure of his career - a distinction that carries real weight considering the actor's three-decade filmography and his recent string of underperformers.
The film arrived with considerable pedigree. Priyadarshan, a director known for crowd-pleasing entertainers, assembled a cast that includes Saif Ali Khan as Shyam, Boman Irani as Judge Pradhan, Shriya Pilgaonkar as Naina, Saiyami Kher as Inspector Varsha Joshi, Rajpal Yadav as Chandu, Sharib Hashmi as Ashok Shinde, and Rajesh Sharma as SP Rohit Vardhan. On paper, it read like a commercial sure thing. On screen, audiences apparently disagreed.
The premise itself was somber rather than celebratory. Haiwaan follows a retired judge who struggles to keep his daughter safe from a convict he once imprisoned. When the judge is murdered, a visually impaired man who had been loyal to him attempts to protect the daughter. It is a revenge-adjacent crime thriller with an emotional core, a genre that has worked for Kumar before but this time failed to connect.
A Career-Defining Low for Akshay Kumar
Kumar's career has weathered its share of setbacks. The past few years have seen several high-profile misses, and Haiwaan was positioned as a course correction - a gritty, performance-driven film from a reliable director. Instead, it has become the nadir. The distinction of "biggest failure" is not merely about a single bad opening weekend; it reflects the gap between the film's scale, its stars' combined salaries, and the revenue it is actually generating. With a runtime of 164 minutes and a wide release, the overheads were substantial. The returns, according to box office trackers, are catastrophic.
The timing compounds the embarrassment. September 2026 has been a crowded month for Hindi releases, and Haiwaan was expected to hold its own against competing titles. It did not. Word of mouth turned negative almost immediately, and the second-week drop has been steep enough that exhibitors are already reducing showtimes. In several circuits, the film has been shifted to smaller screens or dropped entirely.
What Went Wrong
A TMDb rating of 0/10 - while extreme and likely reflecting early audience polling - underscores the depth of the disconnect. Critics and paying audiences alike have pointed to a muddled screenplay that squanders its intriguing setup. The retired judge's dilemma and the visually impaired protector's mission should have generated tension. Instead, reviewers describe a film that lurches between thriller beats and melodrama without committing to either.
Priyadarshan, celebrated for his comedies, may have been the wrong fit for this material. His strength lies in timing and levity; Haiwaan offers neither. The cast, for all its collective talent, is reportedly underserved by a script that gives them little to do beyond reacting to plot twists. Saif Ali Khan's Shyam and Boman Irani's Judge Pradhan are particularly cited as wasted opportunities.
The Broader Implications
For Akshay Kumar, the failure invites uncomfortable questions. At a point in his career when many of his contemporaries have pivoted to character roles or streaming projects, Kumar continues to anchor big-screen commercial vehicles. Haiwaan was meant to prove he could still carry a dark, mid-budget thriller. That bet has not paid off, and the industry will be watching his next move closely.
For the Hindi film industry, the film's performance adds to a growing narrative that star power alone no longer guarantees returns. Audiences, increasingly selective and informed by social media reactions, are rejecting films that fail to deliver on their promise - regardless of who is in them. Haiwaan is the latest evidence.
For Priyadarshan, the result is a rare blemish. He has delivered hits across languages and decades, but this foray into grim crime territory will be remembered as a misfire. Whether he returns to his comedic roots or attempts another dramatic pivot remains to be seen.
As of September 21, Haiwaan is limping toward the end of its theatrical run. With no major re-release or streaming announcement yet, the film's legacy is already being written: a high-profile disaster, and the lowest point yet in an otherwise remarkable career.
Haiwaan is rated 0/10 on TMDb. It runs 164 minutes and is currently in theatres.
Source: Filmibeat Telugu
