Haiwaan Box Office Day 1: Akshay Kumar-Saif Ali Khan Starrer Struggles To Make An Impact, Opens At Rs 3 Crore

Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan’s much-awaited reunion has not translated into a strong box-office opening. Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan reportedly collected around Rs 3 crore net in India on Day 1, according to early trade estimates, making it a disappointing start for a film headlined by two established stars.

1. Haiwaan opens on a surprisingly low note

After considerable anticipation around Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan sharing the screen again, Haiwaan opened to a relatively muted response.Early estimates put the film’s first-day India net collection at approximately Rs 3 crore. Bollywood Hungama estimated the opening in the Rs 2.75–3.25 crore range, while other trackers have reported figures around the same mark.

2. The Akshay-Saif reunion couldn’t create a big opening

One of the film’s biggest selling points was the reunion of Akshay and Saif, who last appeared together in Tashan in 2008.Their return after nearly two decades generated nostalgia among fans, but that excitement did not translate into the kind of opening usually expected from a two-star combination.

3. Competition from Mirzapur and Hanuman Ansh

Haiwaan also arrived at a particularly challenging time.The film is competing for audiences with Mirzapur: The Movie and the ongoing blockbuster run of Hanuman Ansh. Both films have already established strong audience traction, leaving Haiwaan with a tougher battle for screens and footfalls.

4. Occupancy remained underwhelming

The opening-day occupancy figures also reflected the subdued response.Bollywood Hungama described the film’s opening as disappointing, while its reported national-chain performance was particularly weak. Another box-office tracker recorded overall Day 1 occupancy at around 9%, highlighting the limited initial audience turnout.

5. A big-budget reunion needed a stronger start

The film had several factors working in its favour: two established leading men, Priyadarshan at the helm and the nostalgia surrounding the Akshay-Saif pairing.However, the opening suggests that star power alone wasn’t enough to create a major first-day pull. The film will now need stronger word of mouth and weekend growth to improve its theatrical trajectory.

6. The film has received mixed reactions

Haiwaan is a Hindi remake of Priyadarshan’s Malayalam thriller Oppam.The film features Saif as a visually challenged protagonist and Akshay as the antagonist, alongside actors including Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher and Sharib Hashmi. Early reviews have been mixed, with criticism aimed at the screenplay and execution despite appreciation for some performances and action sequences.

7. The weekend becomes crucial now

With Day 1 failing to make a major impact, Saturday and Sunday are particularly important for Haiwaan.A noticeable jump in collections could give the film some breathing room, especially if audience word of mouth improves. But if the numbers remain close to the opening-day level, the film could struggle to sustain itself against its stronger-performing competitors.

KnowBuddys Take

Akshay Kumar + Saif Ali Khan + Priyadarshan sounded like a guaranteed box-office combo. The opening, unfortunately, didn’t get the memo.

A reunion nearly two decades in the making, two major stars and a director with a long history of successful collaborations with Akshay yet Haiwaan has started with only around Rs 3 crore.

The biggest problem right now is the crowded theatrical landscape.

Mirzapur: The Movie has momentum.
Hanuman Ansh is still pulling audiences.
And Haiwaan has to convince viewers to choose it over both.

The weekend is now the real test.