Pandit debotosh dey at 09:53, 16 April 2026

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{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Ek Ajnabee
| image = Ek Ajnabee poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Apoorva Lakhia]]
| producer = [[Bunty Walia]] Jaspreet Singh Walia
| story = Manoj Tyagi
| screenplay = [[Manoj Tyagi]] Apoorva Lakhia
| based_on = {{based on|''[[Man on Fire (Quinnell novel)|Man on Fire]]''|[[A. J. Quinnell]]}}
| starring = [[Amitabh Bachchan]] [[Arjun Rampal]] [[Perizaad Zorabian]] [[Kelly Dorji]]
| music = [[Vishal–Shekhar]] [[Amar Mohile]]
| cinematography = Gururaj R. Jois
| editing = Steven H. Bernard
| studio = G. S. Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
| distributor = [[Eros International]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2005|12|09}}
| runtime = 143 minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget =
}}

'''''Ek Ajnabee – A Man Apart''''' ({{translation|A Stranger}}) is a 2005 Indian [[Hindi]]-language [[action-thriller film]] directed by [[Apoorva Lakhia]]. The film stars [[Amitabh Bachchan]], [[Arjun Rampal]] and [[Perizaad Zorabian]]. It is a remake of [[Tony Scott]]'s ''[[Man on Fire (2004 film)|Man on Fire]]'', a film based on [[Man on Fire (Quinnell novel)|a novel of the same name]], which was also adapted into [[Man on Fire (1987 film)|another film in 1987]].<ref name="Vijayan">{{Cite web|last= Vijayan|first=Vipin|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/dec/09ek.htm|title=Amitabh rocks in Ek Ajnabee|website=[[Rediff.com]]|date=9 December 2005|access-date=3 April 2024|archive-date=9 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609103047/https://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/dec/09ek.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Jha/>

''Ek Ajnabee'' was released theatrically on 9 December 2005.

==Plot==
[[Colonel (India)|Colonel]] Suryaveer "Surya" Singh is a bitter man and ex-Army officer, hired by his friend and former comrade [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] Shekhar Verma to protect a little girl, Anamika R. Rathore, who resides in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] with her [[Non-resident Indian and person of Indian origin|Non-resident Indian]] (NRI) family. He is an alcoholic and is not interested in befriending the girl. Eventually, she wins his heart, and he helps her to prepare for a swim meet.

One day Anamika gets kidnapped, and Surya receives serious injuries in his attempt to prevent the kidnapping. Her father is not able to pay the sum to release his daughter. So Suryaveer uses all his skills to save the life of the child, only to find out about the conspiracy that is behind the little girl's kidnapping. Surya learns that Chang, Ravi’s lawyer, is behind some of this. The real mastermind behind this is Chang's brother. Surya holds Chang hostage, while Chang's brother holds Anamika hostage. When they come to exchange the people, Chang's brother then reveals a great secret to Surya. Surya learns that Shekhar was behind the kidnappings. Shekhar tells Surya that he all he cares about is money, and only wanted him to do the dirty work of eliminating all his enemies and that's why he got him involved in Bangkok, and despite Shekhar trying to send him away once the job was done, Surya chose his fate to die now at Shekhar's hands, by choosing to return to help Anamika. Surya kills Chang's brother's men. A fight between Shekhar and Surya ensues and Shekhar is killed, and Surya spends the rest of his life with Anamika and her mother.

In the end, it is shown that Anamika has a new bodyguard, with Surya as her mentor 15 years later.

==Cast==
* [[Amitabh Bachchan]] as [[Colonel (India)|Col.]] Suryaveer "Surya" Singh
* [[Arjun Rampal]] as [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]] Shekhar Verma
* Baby Rucha Vaidya as Anamika R. Rathore
* [[Perizaad Zorabian]] as Nikasha R. Rathore
* [[Vikram Chatwal]] as Ravi Rathore
* [[Daya Shankar Pandey]] as Kripa "Krispi" Shankar
* [[Akhilendra Mishra]] as [[Assistant commissioner of police|ACP]] Harvinder "Harry" Singh
* [[Aditya Lakhia]] as Sandeep 'Sammy' Joshi
* [[Denzil Smith]] as Lee Kap
* [[Raj Zutshi|Rajendranath "Raj" Zutshi]] as Wong
* [[Kelly Dorjee]] as [[Bangkok]] Police Officer Inspector Kelly
* [[Abhishek Bachchan]] as Bodyguard (special appearance)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Hungama |first=Bollywood |date=7 September 2005 |title=Abhishek, Lara in Ek Ajnabee: Its official : Bollywood News - Bollywood Hungama |url=https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/abhishek-lara-in-ek-ajnabee-its-official/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213021034/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/1191292/Abhishek-Lara-in-Ek-Ajnabee-Its-official |archive-date=13 December 2014 |access-date=3 April 2024 |website=[[Bollywood Hungama]]}}</ref>
* [[Lara Dutta]] as Adult Anamika<ref name=":0" />
* [[Sanjay Dutt]] as Hip-Hop MC in the song "They Don't Know" (special appearance)

==Production==
[[Apoorva Lakhia]] said that the script was written with the lead actor, [[Amitabh Bachchan]], in mind.<ref name="Chhabra">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/nov/11ek.htm|title=Amitabh Bachchan: Man On Fire|website=www.rediff.com|access-date=3 April 2024|archive-date=14 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114030342/http://www.rediff.com/movies/2005/nov/11ek.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>" Lakhia explained that "''[[Man on Fire (Quinnell novel)|Man on Fire]]'' has been made into four films in five different languages.{{sic}} So this is the Indian version. It has all the necessary ingredients required for a movie to come out of India."<ref name="Chhabra"/> [[Vikram Chatwal]], who plays Ravi Rathore in the film, said, "People talk a lot about cross cultural films. These films don't necessarily have to be like ''[[Monsoon Wedding]]'' or ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]''. This is not another [[Hindi film]]. This is not a remake of ''[[Man on Fire (2004 film)|Man on Fire]]''. If you see the way it is shot, edited and directed, it is setting new standards. Mr Bachchan is reinventing himself. So please don't turn this film into another Bollywood film."<ref name="Chhabra"/>

The film was shot on location in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]], for 35 days. Lakhia said that he and Bunty Walia, a producer, chose Bangkok because "we wanted our characters to stand out. When they are walking on the street, they will look different. Both my heroes are over six feet, and Thai men are not as tall. So it was really important to be in a place where they could stand out."<ref name="Chhabra"/>

==Soundtrack==
{{Infobox album
| name = Ek Ajnabee
| type = Soundtrack album
| artist = [[Vishal-Shekhar]] [[Amar Mohile]]
| cover =
| alt =
| released = 17 November 2005
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]]
| length =
| label = [[T-Series (company)|T-Series]]
| producer =
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}

The film's music was composed by [[Vishal–Shekhar]] and [[Amar Mohile]], with lyrics written by [[Sameer Anjaan|Sameer]], [[Vishal Dadlani]], [[Jaideep Sahni]], and [[Lalit Tiwari]].

=== Review ===
Vipin Vijayan of [[Rediff.com]] said, "The film's music is funky and may soon rock discotheques."<ref name="Vijayan"/>

===Track listing===
{| class=wikitable
! #
! Title
! Singer(s)
! Lyrics
! Composer
! Length
|-
|1
|"Barf Khushi Hai"
|[[Kailash Kher]]
|[[Jaideep Sahni]]
|[[Vishal–Shekhar]]
|05:14
|-
|2
|"Ek Ajnabi (Mama Told Me)"
|[[Sunidhi Chauhan]], [[Sukhwinder Singh]], Vishal Dadlani
|[[Vishal Dadlani]]
|Vishal-Shekhar
|06:01
|-
|3
|"Soniye"
|Sunidhi Chauhan, [[KK (singer)|KK]]
|[[Sameer (lyricist)|Sameer]]
|[[Amar Mohile]]
|05:57
|-
|4
|"Stranger On The Prowl"
|[[Shilpa Rao]]
|Sameer
|Amar Mohile
|04:14
|-
|5
|"Tere Liye Meri"
|[[Kunal Ganjawala]], [[Clinton Cerejo]]
|Sameer
|Vishal - Shekhar
|04:50
|-
|6
|"They Dont Know"
|Kunal Ganjawala
|[[Lalit Tiwari]]
|Amar Mohile
|04:00
|-
|7
|"Blast U Between Ur Eyes (Remix)"
|Kunal Ganjawala
|Lalit Tiwari
|Amar Mohile
|04:24
|-
|8
|"Soniye (Mix N Match Remix)"
|Sunidhi Chauhan, KK
|Sameer
|Amar Mohile
|04:49
|-
|9
|"Tere Liye Meri (Part 2)"
|Kunal Ganjawala
|Sameer
|Vishal-Shekhar
|04:47
|}

==Reception==
===Critical response===
Manish Gajjar of [[BBC.com|BBC Shropshire]] wrote, "Overall, this thriller is a must-see if you are an [[Amitabh Bachchan|Amitabh]] fan."<ref name="Gajjar">{{Cite web |title=BBC - Shropshire - Bollywood - Ek Ajnabee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2005/12/ek_ajnabee_review.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014023837/https://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/films/bollywood/2005/12/ek_ajnabee_review.shtml |archive-date=14 October 2022 |access-date=14 October 2022 |website=BBC.co.uk}}</ref> Vipin Vijayan of ''[[Rediff.com]]'' said that the film "reinvents Vijay Dinanath Chauhan (Bachchan's very popular character in [[Agneepath (1990 film)|''Agneepath'']])," and that the film has "a racy first" act but that it "loses steam in the second half."<ref name="Vijayan"/>

[[Bunty Walia]], the producer, said that there had been accusations that the film had been plagiarised. He said "To our credit, <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Apoorva Lakhia]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> and I never hid the fact that Ek Ajnabee was adapted from [[Man on Fire (2004 film)|''Man on Fire'']]. Quite unlike some others who borrow blindly and presume others are blind to their intentions."<ref name=Jha/>

In 2006 the [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] stated an interest in acquiring a copy of the ''Ek Ajnabee'' screenplay for its collection. Walia said that this was an "honour" after the plagiarism accusations.<ref name=Jha/> Subhash K. Jha of the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' said, "Isn't it ironical that the Americans want a copy of a script, which is straightaway inspired by the Hollywood film ''Man on Fire''?"<ref name=Jha>{{cite news |last1=Jha |first1=Subhash K |date=1 February 2006 |title=Ek Ajnabee script for Oscar collection|language=en-IN |work=Hindustan Times|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/NM6/Ek-Ajnabee-script-for-Oscar-collection/Article1-58002.aspx |access-date=1 February 2006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411021939/http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/NM6/Ek-Ajnabee-script-for-Oscar-collection/Article1-58002.aspx|archive-date=11 April 2013}}</ref>

===Box office===
In the United Kingdom, the film was screened in 20 cinemas during its opening weekend, making £35,058, with an average of £1,757 per showing. Manish Gajjar of BBC Shropshire said, "It has not done so well in the UK cinemas."<ref name="Gajjar"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Bollywood|Thailand}}
*{{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20060106091926/http://www.gsentertainment.com/ekajnabee/index.htm}}
* {{IMDb title}}
*{{YouTube|id=VBfuNqC5TdI|title=Ek Ajnabee}}

{{Man on Fire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ajnabee, Ek}}
[[Category:2005 Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:2005 Indian films]]
[[Category:2000s vigilante films]]
[[Category:2005 action drama films]]
[[Category:2005 action thriller films]]
[[Category:2005 films]]
[[Category:Fiction about Indian diaspora]]
[[Category:Films about alcoholism]]
[[Category:Films about bodyguards]]
[[Category:Films about child abduction]]
[[Category:Films about families]]
[[Category:Films about kidnapping in Thailand]]
[[Category:Films about lawyers]]
[[Category:Films about murderers]]
[[Category:Films about veterans]]
[[Category:Films based on British novels]]
[[Category:Films based on crime novels]]
[[Category:Films directed by Apoorva Lakhia]]
[[Category:Films scored by Amar Mohile]]
[[Category:Films scored by Vishal–Shekhar]]
[[Category:Films set in 2005]]
[[Category:Films set in Bangkok]]
[[Category:Films set in Thailand]]
[[Category:Films shot in Bangkok]]
[[Category:Films shot in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Films shot in Thailand]]
[[Category:Hindi remakes of English films]]
[[Category:Indian Army in films]]
[[Category:Indian action drama films]]
[[Category:Indian action thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian films about revenge]]
[[Category:Indian remakes of American films]]
[[Category:Indian thriller films]]
[[Category:Indian vigilante films]]
[[Category:Films based on adaptations]]
[[Category:Films distributed by Eros International]]

Ek Ajnabee - Revision history

Pandit debotosh dey at 09:53, 16 April 2026