Priyadarshan’s Haiwaan has arrived in theatres with Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan leading the crime thriller. The film opened on Friday but had a slow start at the box office. With two films already enjoying strong runs, Haiwaan has entered theatres at a time when the competition is particularly tough.According to Sacnilk.com, Haiwaan collected an estimated Rs 3 crore net in India on its opening day. The film recorded Rs 3.60 crore in India gross collections from 7,224 shows. Its overseas collection stood at around Rs 1 crore gross, taking the film’s estimated worldwide opening-day gross to Rs 4.60 crore.The opening numbers suggest that Haiwaan had a modest start despite its star cast. Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan are coming together on the big screen after several years, while the film also marks Priyadarshan’s return to Hindi cinema with a thriller.You Might Also Like:The film’s first-day India net collection of Rs 3 crore puts it behind the strong performances of some of the movies currently running in theatres. However, the weekend could give the film an opportunity to improve its numbers if it manages to attract more viewers through positive word of mouth.Hanuman Ansh, Mirzapur The Movie remain strongOne of the challenges for Haiwaan is the continued run of Hanuman Ansh. The film has already spent 36 days in theatres but has managed to maintain strong momentum. According to the latest reports, Hanuman Ansh earned an estimated Rs 10.50 crore on its sixth Friday.The collection has taken its estimated India box-office total to around Rs 173.63 crore. Its continued performance means that Haiwaan is competing for audiences with a film that has already built a strong theatrical following.Mirzapur The Movie is another major release adding pressure at the box office. The film has entered its second week and continues to attract audiences. It reportedly earned around Rs 9 crore on its second Friday, taking its overall India collection to approximately Rs 157.45 crore.You Might Also Like:With both films performing well, Haiwaan will have to rely on its lead pair, Priyadarshan’s direction and audience interest in the thriller genre to gain momentum over the weekend.What is Haiwaan about?Haiwaan is directed and co-written by Priyadarshan and is a Hindi remake of his 2016 Malayalam film Oppam. The original starred Mohanlal and Samuthirakani. The Hindi adaptation features Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar and Saiyami Kher in key roles. Mohanlal also appears in a cameo.The film has songs composed by Pritam, while Ronnie Raphael has worked on the background score.The movie also marks a reunion for Akshay and Saif, who have previously worked together in films such as Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Yeh Dillagi, Tu Chor Main Sipahi, Keemat: They Are Back, Aarzoo and Tashan.However, their latest collaboration comes with a major difference. Akshay is seen in a role unlike the comic characters he has often played with Priyadarshan.Speaking to ANI before the release, Priyadarshan explained that he wanted to present Akshay differently this time. The director said he saw the project as a chance to move away from the kind of roles they had previously done together and explore the actor in a new space.Priyadarshan has also asked audiences to watch Haiwaan before judging how it differs from Oppam.With its first-day collection at Rs 3 crore, Haiwaan now has the weekend ahead to improve its theatrical run. The coming days will determine whether the Akshay-Saif reunion can pull the film out of its slow opening amid the ongoing Hanuman Ansh and Mirzapur The Movie box-office buzz.