Filmmaker Priyadarshan says he has learned a clear lesson from the poor box office performance of Haiwaan: audiences seem to prefer seeing him and Akshay Kumar together in comedy.
The crime thriller, which also starred Saif Ali Khan, opened in India with around Rs 3 crore net and finished its domestic theatrical run at about Rs 9.92 crore net. The film was reportedly made on a budget of around Rs 130 crore.
Speaking about the result, Priyadarshan said he accepts the failure and now believes serious subjects may not be the right space for his collaboration with Akshay.
He pointed out that this is not the first time a non-comedy film featuring the pair has struggled. Their earlier film Khatta Meetha, which also starred Trisha Krishnan, had underperformed as well.
Comedy Remains Their Strongest Zone
The contrast is hard to miss.
Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar have delivered several popular comedies together over the years, including Hera Pheri, Garam Masala, Bhagam Bhag, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and De Dana Dan.
Their more recent comedy collaboration Bhooth Bangla also performed well, reinforcing the idea that audiences still respond strongly to their comic timing and familiar working style.
Haiwaan, however, moved in a very different direction. The film was an official remake of the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam and placed Akshay and Saif in a much darker story.
After its weak theatrical run, Priyadarshan now appears ready to leave serious films behind when working with Akshay.
For fans of their comedy collaborations, that may mean the director-actor pair will return to the genre that built some of their biggest Hindi film successes.
