Entertainment
Saiyami Kher Predicts Haiwaan Will Be a Career-Defining Film for Saif Ali Khan
By Anita Britto
Actor Saiyami Kher, who stars alongside Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in Priyadarshan's upcoming film Haiwaan, believes the project could become a landmark moment in Saif's career. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Kher spoke about witnessing Akshay and Saif reunite after 17 years, the advice Akshay gave her about surviving in the film industry, and the energetic mood on set.
Explaining why she chose to join Haiwaan, Kher said the scale of the project and the combination of talent involved made it stand out. She noted that her previous work had been less mainstream, and seeing Saif and Akshay share the screen again after nearly two decades, under Priyadarshan's direction, was exciting both as an actor and as a viewer.
Describing Saif as one of the funniest people she has met, Kher said it was impossible to be around him without laughing, whether or not he intends to be funny. She also praised his body of work, referencing Omkara, and said she believes Haiwaan could be the film people remember him for in years to come, calling it a potential landmark project in his career.
Kher said Akshay Kumar, too, is doing something different in Haiwaan compared to his recent work, bringing an energy to the set that she had not experienced before.
She revealed that she knew Akshay even before working with him on this film, through their shared interest in cricket. Kher said Akshay once told her that his mantra in the industry has always been that work leads to more work. She recalled running into him at an airport a week earlier, while filming another project, when he repeated the same advice to keep working. She noted that filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has given her similar guidance.
According to Kher, waiting too long for an ideal leading role can cost an actor years of experience. She said continuing to work allows an artist to grow through every project, learning from co-stars and technicians alike, while also opening the door to unexpected opportunities. She added that as long as one genuinely enjoys the work, they should keep moving forward — a philosophy she said Akshay practises himself, since he remains constantly busy.
Kher also highlighted Akshay's discipline, noting his reputation for punctuality, which she said is uncommon in the Hindi film industry. She said that with him on set, shoots reliably start and end on time.
Recalling the shoot experience in Kochi and locations outside Mumbai, Kher described the atmosphere as similar to a long picnic, filled with cricket, games and pranks whenever the cameras weren't rolling. She said watching Akshay and Saif interact felt like witnessing two old friends reunite, as they reminisced about stories from 20 years ago and laughed together.
Haiwaan, directed by Priyadarshan, marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan after nearly two decades and also features Saiyami Kher in a significant role.