Haiwaan closes as a flop, Akshay Kumar's next reportedly bags Rs 60 crore deal

Akshay Kumar has two very different stories to his name this week. His crime thriller Haiwaan, with Saif Ali Khan, has reportedly left theatres after only two weeks. The numbers make it one of the biggest setbacks of his career. His next film, a comedy with director Anees Bazmee, has reportedly landed a big distribution deal well before its release.

Haiwaan reached screens on September 11, 2026. Critics gave it mixed reviews, and audiences felt much the same. Reports say weak promotion and its label as a remake kept it from building any buzz before release. The film reportedly opened at 3 crore net in India and finished its run at 9.92 crore net, which works out to 11.7 crore gross.

The film did little better overseas, reportedly collecting 3.35 crore gross. That puts its worldwide closing total at about 15.05 crore gross. Against a reported budget of 130 crore, it is said to have recovered only 7.63 percent of its cost, a shortfall of about 120.08 crore. The result hurts more because the film reunited Akshay with director Priyadarshan after their hit Bhooth Bangla. It has now been called a flop.

The outlook for his next project, tentatively titled Mauja Hi Mauja, looks much brighter. Reports say PVR Inox has bought its all-India distribution rights for Rs 60 crore. It is reportedly an advance deal on a commission basis, like the one for Monster. A deal this size would reportedly set the break-even point at around Rs 130 crore.

Vidya Balan and Raashi Khanna play key roles in the comedy, and filming ended in July. The makers are looking at a 2027 release. Reports say Dil Raju, Akshay Kumar and PVR Inox will fix a new release date within the next 15 days. People close to the deal reportedly think the target is well within reach for a clean comedy entertainer.