Akshay Kumar Birthday Special: Haiwaan Actor Drops Intense Video Ahead of Release

Ahead of the release of Haiwaan, Akshay Kumar marked his birthday with a special video post for his fans, offering a glimpse into the darker side of his character in the upcoming film. Taking to social media on September 9, the actor shared a 40-second video featuring contrasting intense and tender moments and reflected on the central theme of the film. Alongside the video, Akshay wrote, “On my birthday, a small thought… What looks evil may not always be evil. And what looks good may not always be good. Maybe that’s what HAIWAAN taught me.” The actor also thanked his fans for their love over the years and promised that the film would show them a side of him they have not seen before.

Akshay further wrote, “Thank you for all the love you’ve given me over the years. This Friday, I’m giving you a side of me you haven’t seen before. See you in cinemas. Love & Prayers, Akshay.” The birthday post comes just days before Haiwaan arrives in theatres, making the video particularly significant as it gives audiences a closer look at the unusual space Akshay has explored with the film. The footage builds suspense around his character, while the contrasting moments with a child hint at layers that may not be immediately apparent from his cold and intense appearance.

Haiwaan marks a major departure from the kind of heroic roles Akshay Kumar has frequently played on screen. In Priyadarshan’s Hindi remake of the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, Akshay plays a cold-blooded antagonist opposite Saif Ali Khan, who takes on the lead role. The casting brings together two prominent actors in very different spaces, with Akshay stepping into a darker character that allows him to explore a side of his performance that audiences have not seen as often.

Priyadarshan, who directed the original Malayalam thriller as well, returns to helm the Hindi adaptation. Haiwaan also marks his 98th film as a director, adding another milestone to his long filmmaking journey. The filmmaker’s return to the story gives the Hindi version a connection to the original while the new casting brings a fresh dynamic to the thriller, particularly with Akshay taking on the antagonist role.

The 40-second birthday video further plays on the film’s theme of appearances versus reality. Akshay’s character is shown through both intense and tender moments, creating an intriguing contrast and leaving audiences wondering about the person behind the threatening exterior. His birthday message — “What looks evil may not always be evil. And what looks good may not always be good” — adds another layer to the mystery and suggests that Haiwaan may not offer audiences characters who can simply be divided into good and evil.

With Akshay Kumar stepping into an antagonist role, Saif Ali Khan leading the story and Priyadarshan returning to his thriller roots, Haiwaan is now gearing up for its theatrical release on September 11, 2026. Akshay’s birthday video has only heightened curiosity around the film, particularly because the actor himself has promised audiences a side of his performance they have not seen before. After years of playing protagonists, his transformation into a cold-blooded antagonist could make Haiwaan a very different Akshay Kumar experience when it arrives in cinemas this Friday.