The Priyadarshan-Akshay Kumar partnership has given Bollywood some of its most remembered comedy films. However, their latest collaboration, Haiwaan, took the two into a darker and more serious territory. Following the film’s disappointing theatrical performance, Priyadarshan has now reflected on what may work best for the duo in the future.
Speaking about Haiwaan and its performance, the filmmaker said he accepts the film’s failure gracefully. He also suggested that the audience has repeatedly shown a preference for seeing him and Akshay together in comedy rather than serious subjects.
According to Priyadarshan, Haiwaan was not the first time his collaboration with Akshay outside comedy had failed to connect commercially. He pointed to their earlier film Khatta Meetha as another example.
“I Don’t Think The Audience Wants To See Us In The Non-Comedic Space”
Priyadarshan’s comments were particularly significant because of the long history he shares with Akshay Kumar.
The director told Deccan Chronicle that the failure of Haiwaan reinforced his belief that audiences do not necessarily want to see the filmmaker-actor combination tackling serious subjects. He also recalled that Khatta Meetha, which starred Akshay alongside Trisha Krishnan, had underperformed when it released in 2010.
Rather than treating the failure as a setback alone, Priyadarshan appears to be using it to understand the expectations surrounding his partnership with Akshay.
His statement also highlights how strongly the duo's identity has become associated with comedy after several successful collaborations.
Haiwaan Marked A Major Change For The Duo
Haiwaan was a significant departure from the kind of films that audiences have traditionally associated with Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar.
Released on September 11, 2026, the film starred Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in prominent roles. It was directed by Priyadarshan and was an adaptation of his own Malayalam thriller Oppam, which originally featured Mohanlal.
Akshay played a much darker character in the film, while Saif Ali Khan also took on an important role in the thriller. The project therefore offered audiences something considerably different from the chaotic comedy formula that had previously brought Priyadarshan and Akshay together.
However, the film struggled commercially.
According to reports cited by The Indian Express, Haiwaan opened at around ₹3 crore net in India and eventually finished its theatrical run at approximately ₹9.92 crore net domestically. The worldwide gross was reported at around ₹15 crore.
Priyadarshan And Akshay Kumar’s Comedy Legacy
The contrasting response to Haiwaan has once again brought attention to the impressive comedy track record of Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar.
The two first collaborated on Hera Pheri in 2000, a film that went on to become one of Hindi cinema’s most influential comedies. Their partnership continued with films such as Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and De Dana Dan.
Each film had its own story and characters, but the combination of Priyadarshan’s ensemble-driven direction and Akshay’s comic timing became a recurring feature.
Their comedy collaborations have remained popular even years after their theatrical releases, with several of these films continuing to feature prominently in discussions about Bollywood comedy.
Khatta Meetha Was Another Non-Comedy Experiment
Priyadarshan’s reference to Khatta Meetha is important because the film itself occupied a space between satire, social drama and comedy.
Released in 2010, the film featured Akshay Kumar as Sachin Tichkule, a struggling road-construction contractor. Trisha Krishnan played the female lead.
Although the film contained plenty of humour, Priyadarshan has classified it as another example of a collaboration with Akshay that did not achieve the desired result outside their more established comedy formula.
Now, after Haiwaan, the filmmaker appears to have become more certain about where he wants the partnership to go.
Their Next Collaboration Returns To Comedy
Interestingly, Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar are already set to collaborate again in a comedy-thriller.
In an interaction earlier this month, Priyadarshan revealed that Akshay will play a hunter in their upcoming project. The film will mark their ninth collaboration and Priyadarshan’s 99th directorial venture.
The filmmaker described Akshay’s character as a hunter but kept further details under wraps.
The project therefore represents a return to the broad territory that has historically defined their partnership, even if it combines comedy with thriller elements.
Priyadarshan Accepts Haiwaan’s Failure
Priyadarshan has also spoken more broadly about the uncertainty involved in filmmaking. In another recent interview, he described himself as an insecure filmmaker and said that even after making numerous films, he does not feel he has completely figured out the formula for a successful movie.
That perspective is reflected in his comments about Haiwaan. Instead of blaming the audience or external circumstances, he has acknowledged the film’s failure and connected it with his own understanding of the Priyadarshan-Akshay combination.
For fans of their comedy films, the filmmaker’s latest comments could signal a return to the style that made their collaboration so popular in the first place.
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