Bollywood’s power duo Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan recently turned the busy streets of South Mumbai into a high-octane movie set for their upcoming action thriller Haiwaan. The two stars filmed a massive chase sequence near Churchgate railway station and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), creating a buzz among locals and film enthusiasts alike.
According to a Mid-Day report, the shoot went on for five nights and involved over 30–40 cars and 100 junior artistes. The large-scale action scene — choreographed by stunt director Stunt Silva — was described as a “cat-and-mouse chase” sequence that demanded intense coordination and precision.
“Akshay Is Known to Sleep Early, Yet He Shot for 5 Nights”
Director Priyadarshan, who reunites with Akshay after several years, shared that both actors approached the demanding schedule with complete professionalism.
“Both Saif and Akshay knew how the sequence had to be shot and they cooperated, though Akshay is known to sleep early,” Priyadarshan said with a laugh.
The director also revealed that apart from South Mumbai, key scenes were filmed at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). While Akshay has now wrapped his portions and flown to Dubai for the shoot of Welcome to the Jungle, Priyadarshan mentioned that he still has nine days of work left with Saif.
Actress Shriya Pilgaonkar, who’s also part of the film, took to Instagram to share a picture with the filmmaker, writing, “An absolute privilege to work with this stellar team led by Priyadarshan sir.”
From ‘Holiday’ to ‘Haiwaan’ — Akshay’s Mumbai Connection
The last time Akshay shot such a large-scale action sequence on Mumbai’s streets was for Holiday – A Soldier Is Never Off Duty (2014). During the film’s tenth anniversary, producer Vipul Shah recalled how Akshay managed to shoot amidst real crowds without chaos.
“We had sixteen hidden cameras and planned it down to every second,” Shah shared. “The moment people spotted Akshay, it became chaos. We’d get one shot and he’d immediately drive away. Thankfully, we got most of the takes in one go.”
With Haiwaan, Akshay Kumar seems to be bringing back that same energy — shooting right in the heart of Mumbai, surrounded by the city’s pulse.
If early reports are any indication, this Priyadarshan-directed film promises to blend old-school action with modern spectacle, making Haiwaan one of the most anticipated releases in the coming year.
