Ek Ajnabee (transl. “A Stranger”) is a 2005 Indian Hindi‑language action‑thriller film directed by Apoorva Lakhia. The picture was produced by Bunty Walia and Jaspreet Singh Walia for G. S. Entertainment Pvt. Ltd., and distributed internationally by Eros International.
Production
- Director: Apoorva Lakhia
- Screenplay & Story: Manoj Tyagi (screenplay), Manoj Tyagi (story)
- Based on: The 1998 novel Man on Fire by A. J. Quinnell, which had previously been adapted into the 2004 Hollywood film of the same name directed by Tony Scott.
- Music: Composed by the duo Vishal‑Shekhar with additional score by Amar Mohile; lyrics were contributed by Sameer, Vishal Dadlani, Jaideep Sahni and Lalit Tiwari.
- Cinematography: Gururaj R. Jois
- Editing: Steven H. Bernard
Principal photography was conducted on location in Bangkok, Thailand, over a period of 35 days.
Cast
- Amitabh Bachchan as Colonel Suryaveer “Surya” Singh
- Arjun Rampal as Captain Shekhar Verma
- Perizaad Zorabian as Nikasha R. Rathore
- Baby Rucha Vaidya as young Anamika R. Rathore
- Lara Dutta (adult Anamika)
- Supporting actors include Kelly Dorji, Vikram Chatwal, Daya Shankar Pandey, Akhilendra Mishra and special appearances by Abhishek Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt.
Plot Summary
Colonel Suryaveer “Surya” Singh (Bachchan), a disgraced former Indian Army officer living in Bangkok, is hired to protect the young daughter of a wealthy Non‑Resident Indian family. Over time he forms an emotional bond with the girl, Anamika. When she is kidnapped, Surya suffers severe injuries while attempting a rescue. He later discovers that the kidnapping was orchestrated by Captain Shekhar Verma, his former comrade, who intended to use Surya as a tool for personal gain. The film culminates in a violent confrontation in which Surya defeats Shekhar and his accomplices, rescuing Anamika. The narrative ends with an epilogue showing Surya continuing to protect Anamika years later.
Release and Reception
- Release date: 9 December 2005 (India)
- Running time: 143 minutes
- Country: India
- Language: Hindi
The film opened in the United Kingdom across twenty cinemas, earning £35,058 in its opening weekend (average £1,757 per showing). Critical response was mixed; reviewers praised Amitabh Bachchan’s performance and the film’s action sequences but noted a loss of narrative momentum in the second half. The soundtrack received attention for its blend of contemporary pop and traditional Bollywood styles.
Significance
Ek Ajnabee is notable for being one of the few Indian adaptations of an internationally known thriller, directly translating the core premise of Man on Fire into a South Asian context while retaining much of the original’s thematic focus on redemption and protection. It also marked a rare collaboration between veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and director Apoorva Lakhia.