Bollywood’s “Khiladi” star Akshay Kumar recently sought advice from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding his decision to take on a negative role in his upcoming film, Haiwaan.
Exploring New Roles
Akshay shared, “I am doing a film where I play a negative character. I was wondering whether I should do it or not. The film is called Haiwaan, but in the end, I lose. The ‘Haiwaan’ loses.” In response, Fadnavis encouraged him, stating, “Yes, you should definitely do it. A versatile actor like you should explore all kinds of roles.”
The Chief Minister emphasized that for an actor, taking on diverse roles is crucial for true accomplishment. He added, “Ultimately, what is an accomplishment? Even in films where the villain loses, the character often leaves a bigger impact than the hero. That is creativity. But do continue doing more films as a hero as well.”
Reason for the Role
Explaining his choice to play a negative character, Akshay remarked, “I felt like doing a negative role hence I am doing it. Mostly I play the hero in the film.”
About Haiwaan
Haiwaan brings Akshay back together with actor Saif Ali Khan after a 17-year gap. Directed by Priyadarshan, the film is a remake of the 2016 Malayalam thriller Oppam, which was also directed by him and starred Mohanlal. The cast includes notable names like Boman Irani and Shriya Pilgaonkar, with Rohan Shankar credited as the screenwriter.
Upcoming Projects
In addition, Akshay will appear in Priyadarshan’s horror comedy Bhoot Bangla, scheduled for release towards the end of 2025. This film marks the reunion of the iconic trio of Priyadarshan, Akshay, and Paresh Rawal. Along with Akshay and Paresh, the film will feature Tabu, Rajpal Yadav, Mithila Palkar, and Wamiqa Gabbi in significant roles.
Produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms in collaboration with Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films, Bhoot Bangla has been co-produced by Faara Sheikh and Vedant Baali. The script is penned by Akash A Kaushik, with the screenplay crafted by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair, and Priyadarshan. The dialogues are written by Rohan Shankar.
Release Date
“Bhoot Bangla” is set for a theatrical release on April 2, 2026.