The two have put a stamp on a name that is sure to get some attention. Wicked Sunny is what they are calling their next venture, and if the word is to be believed, it will be a wackier version of Akshay than we have had in a while. Haiwaan is already in the books for September 11, 2026, so this is no sign of the comedy machine running out of steam.
Why the title lands now
Those in the know say Wicked Sunny is as much about the character as it is the film’s off-kilter vibe. And for any long-time follower of Akshay, the words won’t be a stranger. It was the theme for his part in Mujhse Shaadi Karogi back in 2004.
It is a deliberate nod to the past, according to insiders. Even after 22 years, that piece of music has a way of sticking with you. Using it as a reference is an easy way to give the movie some pull, and it suits the kind of cheeky tone Priyadarshan has in mind.
Akshay’s comic switch-up
All the talk is of Akshay in a different headspace. This is not your average comic role; he is expected to let loose in a way that stands apart from what has come before. Think along the lines of Bhooth Bangla or Welcome To The Jungle, but with more of an edge.
There is an audience for that kind of unadulterated fun. Sources will tell you the title is meant to put some wind in the sails. Put the right energy behind it and you have a film that can draw a crowd from the get-go.
What is confirmed so far
The rundown, from those near the production:
– Title: Wicked Sunny
– A comic thriller by genre
– From Ramesh Taurani’s Tips Films
– Script by Priyadarshan and Rohan Shankar
– Cameras roll in December
You have the same scribes as in Bhooth Bangla, which tells you something about the flavour. Still, the people making the film are quick to point out this one is a bit more eccentric, made to fit around Akshay’s zany side.
A partnership built for laughs
Nine is the number when you count up the times Akshay and Priyadarshan have put pen to paper. They have been at it for a while, honing a way of doing things where the chaos and the charm are in equal measure.
Put Garam Masala (2005), Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and Khatta Meetha (2010) on the table. Then there is Bhagam Bhag (2006), De Dana Dan (2009), Hera Pheri (2000) and of course the latest, Bhooth Bangla. The body of work speaks for itself.
Haiwaan is up next, the eighth in the series, with Saif Ali Khan in tow for a September 11, 2026 release. Wicked Sunny is in line to follow, so the pipeline of Priyadarshan-Akshay fare remains well oiled.
The bigger picture for fans
The offer is straightforward: the old team, a new kind of trouble and a moniker that is already familiar. In latching onto a 2004 favourite and hinting at an Akshay like we have not seen, they are having it both ways – the memory and the newness of it all.
It is also a shrewd move for visibility. When you have a title with some history and a defined sense of humour, the marketing does half the work. The trailers have more of a hold on you and the conversation online lingers. Those with an inside track think it is going to be a good time for the fans.
