Saif Ali, Akshay Kumar’s ‘Haiwaan’ is not an exact ‘Oppam’ remake, but Mohanlal will be playing a cameo: Priyadarshan | Exclusive
When asked about his frequent collaborations with Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan said, “It’s all about comfort. For me, he is Bollywood’s Mohanlal.”
When asked about his frequent collaborations with Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan said, “It’s all about comfort. For me, he is Bollywood’s Mohanlal.”
When asked about his frequent collaborations with Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan said, “It’s all about comfort. For me, he is Bollywood’s Mohanlal.”
Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan, who was in Kochi on Saturday for the shoot of his upcoming film ‘Haiwaan,’ revealed that the movie is an inspiration from his earlier work ‘Oppam,’ with many changes made to the dialogues and screenplay of the film. The director who has delivered several hits in Mollywood and Bollywood is working on his 99th film, which will feature Akshay Kumar and Saif Ail Khan in the lead. Speaking to Onmanorama from the film’s set in Panampilly Nagar, the director also shared that Mohanlal, who played the lead in the 2016 hit ‘Oppam’, will be doing a cameo in the movie.
“His character will definitely be a surprise for the audience,” Priyadarshan said, revealing that he next plans to direct his 100th film with Mohanlal in the lead. Although the screenplay is yet to be finalised, he hopes to begin shooting next year.
‘Haiwaan’, produced by KVN Productions and Thespian Films, is a big-budget film also featuring actresses Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher. The shoot will continue for a few more days in Kochi, after which the cast, including Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, and crew will move to Vagamon, Ooty, and Mumbai. “We had originally planned to shoot the current sequence in Mumbai, but couldn’t secure the necessary permissions. That led us to scout for alternatives, and Kochi turned out to be an ideal choice,” he explained.
Interestingly, a scene from ‘Oppam’ was also filmed at the same location in Kochi nine years ago. When asked about his frequent collaborations with Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan said, “It’s all about comfort. For me, he is Bollywood’s Mohanlal.”
On the topic of sequels, he added, “I don’t usually revisit my original films with sequels—it’s not my preferred style of working. But I will definitely make ‘Hera Pheri 3’, as the producers have been requesting it for a long time.” He concluded with a smile, “Once I complete these films, I hope to retire. I’m getting tired.”