Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are coming together for Haiwaan, a dark crime thriller directed by Priyadarshan. The film has generated plenty of interest, not just for its cast and story, but also for its reported production cost and star salaries.
Reports suggest Haiwaan carries a making budget of around ₹115 crore. Once other expenses like prints and advertising, interest, and related costs get factored in, the film’s overall landing cost is estimated at roughly ₹140 crore.
These numbers come from media reports and industry estimates. The makers have not put out a full official breakdown of the film’s budget or individual actor contracts.
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Haiwaan Cast Salary
Akshay Kumar Haiwaan Salary
Akshay Kumar is reportedly the highest paid actor on Haiwaan, said to have taken home around ₹54 crore for his role in the film.
That fee makes sense given how central his character is to the story. Akshay is playing a much darker role this time around, a ruthless man driven entirely by revenge.
The film gives him a real chance to step away from his usual comedy and mainstream action image. The trailer has already shown glimpses of his intense look and unusual characterisation.
Saif Ali Khan Haiwaan Salary
Saif Ali Khan is another major draw in Haiwaan. Reports suggest he has picked up around ₹8 crore for his role.
Saif plays a visually impaired man who is also a father, and his character gets pulled into the dangerous situation created by Akshay Kumar’s character.
The role is quite different from your typical action hero part. Rather than relying on physical strength alone, Saif’s character has to lean on his other senses, his intelligence, and his courage to deal with the threat closing in on him.
Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan Salary
Director Priyadarshan is also reportedly commanding a significant fee for this project, with reports putting his pay at around ₹14 crore.
Priyadarshan has a long history working with Akshay Kumar, particularly on popular comedy films. Haiwaan, though, takes the filmmaker into a much darker space than usual.
The movie is an official Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s own Malayalam film Oppam, released back in 2016, which starred Mohanlal in the lead role.
Haiwaan Movie Budget Breakdown
Here is a broad look at the reported figures surrounding Haiwaan:
| Details | Reported Amount |
|---|---|
| Making budget | ₹115 crore |
| Estimated landing cost | Around ₹140 crore |
| Akshay Kumar’s salary | ₹54 crore |
| Saif Ali Khan’s salary | ₹8 crore |
| Priyadarshan’s reported fee | ₹14 crore |
| Reported pre-release recovery | ₹80 crore |
These figures should be treated as reported estimates rather than officially confirmed numbers. Film budgets often shift depending on whether production costs, marketing, interest, distribution expenses, and other charges get included in the total.
Do Check: Haiwaan Trailer Review
Haiwaan Has Reportedly Recovered a Major Part of Its Cost
One genuinely interesting part of the financial story around Haiwaan is its reported pre-release recovery.
Industry reports suggest the film has secured around ₹80 crore through rights deals covering digital, satellite, and music rights. That figure is said to cover a large chunk of the reported production cost even before the movie hits theatres.
If these figures hold up, the pre-release deals could ease a lot of the financial pressure off the theatrical release. That said, the film’s final commercial performance will still come down to ticket sales, audience response, and its theatrical share.
Why Is Haiwaan So Expensive?
A big chunk of the reported budget ties back to its star cast, production scale, and technical requirements.
Akshay Kumar is one of the biggest names attached to the film, and Saif Ali Khan adds another major draw. Priyadarshan’s involvement also gives the project a strong creative profile.
The movie also comes with action sequences, detailed production design, and a large supporting cast, all of which can push up the overall cost of a thriller at this scale.
Related Article: Haiwaan Teaser Review
Haiwaan Cast
Alongside Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, Haiwaan features several familiar faces.
The cast includes Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Sharib Hashmi, Rajesh Sharma, Manoj Joshi, Asrani, Jisshu Sengupta, and Pahal Chaudhary.
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal, who played the lead in Oppam, is also expected to make a special appearance in Haiwaan.
This supporting cast adds real depth to the thriller and plays an important part in building the world around the two central characters.
What Is Haiwaan About?
Haiwaan follows a dangerous man driven by revenge who ends up involved in a series of brutal crimes. Akshay Kumar plays this character, giving him one of his more intense roles to date.
Saif Ali Khan plays a visually impaired father whose life changes once he gets pulled into this dangerous situation. He has to find a way to protect himself and his daughter while facing an unpredictable enemy.
The story blends crime, suspense, action, and emotional drama, making Haiwaan quite a departure from the lighter films Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar have made together in the past.
Related Article: Haiwaan Release Date
Haiwaan Release Date
Haiwaan is set to arrive in cinemas on September 11, 2026.
With a reported ₹115 crore making budget and major stars like Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan attached, the film will be closely watched at the box office. That reported ₹80 crore pre-release recovery also gives the movie an interesting financial angle heading into release.
At the end of the day, though, audience response will decide how successful Haiwaan actually becomes. If the thriller connects with viewers, its dark storyline, star power, and Priyadarshan’s direction could give it a genuinely strong run in theatres.