Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Haiwaan’ Cleared With U/A 16+ Certificate Ahead of Release
Haiwaan has cleared its final certification hurdle ahead of its theatrical release, giving audiences a clearer sense of what to expect from Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan's return to the screen together.
The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) issued the Priyadarshan-directed thriller a U/A 16+ certificate on September 8. The film is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on September 11, 2026.
Its certified length is a little over 164 minutes, translating to a runtime of approximately 2 hours and 44 minutes.
Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan Reunite
The casting carries particular weight because Akshay and Saif were a familiar pairing during an earlier phase of their careers.
The actors appeared together in films including Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi and Tashan. With Tashan released in 2008, Haiwaan brings them back together on the big screen after roughly 18 years.
Their reunion, however, comes in a markedly different setting from the lighter films often associated with the pair.
Saif plays a visually impaired man caught in a dangerous situation, while Akshay takes on a darker role. The contrast between the two characters forms a central part of the film's thriller setup.
Boman Irani, Sharib Hashmi, Saiyami Kher and Shriya Pilgaonkar are also part of the cast.
CBFC Requested Changes Before Clearance
The U/A 16+ classification was granted after changes were made to the film.
According to a Bollywood Hungama report on the certification process, the CBFC sought modifications to some language and visuals. One visual appearing early in the film was altered, while certain words were also changed.
The reported dialogue modifications included replacing one expression with “Kamina” and another derogatory reference with “Girlfriend.”
The certificate therefore applies to the revised theatrical version scheduled to reach cinemas on September 11.
Priyadarshan Moves Away From Familiar Comedy Ground
For Hindi audiences, the combination of Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar is closely associated with comedy. Their previous collaborations include Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and De Dana Dan.
Haiwaan heads in another direction.
The film is a Hindi adaptation of the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, which Priyadarshan also directed. The original starred Mohanlal and followed a visually impaired man who becomes entangled in a murder investigation.
That connection gives Haiwaan an established narrative foundation while allowing Priyadarshan to revisit thriller territory for a Hindi-language audience.
The project is also Saif's first film with the director.
Saif on the Physical Demands of the Role
Playing a visually impaired protagonist added a specific challenge to the film's action sequences.
Saif has described shooting the raw action scenes as “utterly exhausting.” The physical work had to be performed while maintaining the behaviour and limitations of a character who cannot see.
That requirement changes the mechanics of a conventional action performance. Movement, reactions and physical confrontations have to remain credible without suddenly giving the character visual awareness for the convenience of a scene.
Akshay's casting provides the other side of that equation. Rather than positioning him in the familiar heroic space of many of his mainstream films, Haiwaan presents him as a more threatening presence within the story.
A Long-Delayed Reunion Reaches Cinemas
The September 11 release gives Haiwaan several distinct elements to sell: Akshay and Saif sharing the screen again, Priyadarshan returning to thriller material, and a Hindi reinterpretation of one of his Malayalam films.
The U/A 16+ certificate also signals that this is not being positioned in the mould of the broad family comedies that defined several of Akshay and Priyadarshan's most popular collaborations.
With certification now completed, the focus shifts to the theatrical release and how audiences respond to a familiar combination of actors and filmmaker working in a considerably darker register.
