{ "id": "epv1qq9zm7", "slug": "ek-aur-ek-gyarah", "title": "Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (एक और एक ग्यारह)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s", "label": "Hindi films of the 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s.comedy-films", "label": "Comedy films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s.comedy-films" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s.comedy-films", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020: Comedy films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s.comedy-films", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001", "label": "India · 2001 to 2020", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films", "label": "Films and standalone screen works", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works", "label": "Individual films by title and year", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema", "label": "Indian films (individual works)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s", "label": "Hindi films of the 2000s", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s.comedy-films", "label": "Comedy films", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2001.culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s.comedy-films" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (एक और एक ग्यारह), also By Hook or by Crook, is a 2003 Hindi action comedy directed by David Dhawan, produced by Subhash Ghai, starring Sanjay Dutt and Govinda as thieves; released 28 March 2003, distinct from the 1981 Shashi Kapoor film of the same name.", "snippet": "Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (एक और एक ग्यारह), also By Hook or by Crook, is a 2003 Hindi action comedy directed by David Dhawan, produced by Subhash Ghai, starring Sanjay Dutt and Govinda as thieves; released 28 March 2003, distinct from the 1981 Shashi Kapoor film of the same name.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.films.films.individual-works.indian-cinema.hindi-films-of-the-2000s.comedy-films", "markdown": "# Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (एक और एक ग्यारह)\n\n**Ek Aur Ek Gyarah** (एक और एक ग्यारह; also released as *Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook*) is a 2003 Hindi-language action comedy directed by [David Dhawan](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-dhawan) and produced by [Subhash Ghai](https://www.edgepedia.org/subhash-ghai), starring [Sanjay Dutt](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanjay-dutt) and Govinda as two petty thieves who take refuge with an army officer while fleeing two wanted criminals.[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/b99b7e8a-85f3-5215-9ff3-1a4ec3a5b961/ek-aur-ek-gyarah) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah/umc.cmc.7j98ca3s9s2f0j8n356lwxhrk) It was released in India on 28 March 2003, with the Hindi title pairing Dutt and Govinda in another of Dhawan's comedies.[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=522)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Release | 28 March 2003, India; Hindi with Punjabi also used[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=522) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah/umc.cmc.7j98ca3s9s2f0j8n356lwxhrk) |\n| Director / producer | David Dhawan; produced by Subhash Ghai for Mukta Arts Ltd.[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/b99b7e8a-85f3-5215-9ff3-1a4ec3a5b961/ek-aur-ek-gyarah) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah/umc.cmc.7j98ca3s9s2f0j8n356lwxhrk) |\n| Lead cast | Sanjay Dutt (Sitara), Govinda (Tara), Amrita Arora (Priti), Jackie Shroff (Maj. Ram Singh)[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354538/fullcredits/) |\n| Villains | Gulshan Grover as Panther and Ashish Vidyarthi as Cobra[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354538/fullcredits/) |\n| Runtime | 158 minutes per Box Office India; other listings give 2h 40m and 144 min[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=522) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah/umc.cmc.7j98ca3s9s2f0j8n356lwxhrk) • [5](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/212502/ek-aur-ek-gyarah-by-hook-or-by-crook?country=SA) |\n| India box office | Net gross ₹117.1 million (₹11.71 crore) on a stated budget of ₹95 million (₹9.5 crore); verdict \"Below Average\"[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=522) |\n| US release | Opened 28 March 2003 in 18 theaters through Eros Entertainment, grossing $132,498[7](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Ek-Aur-Ek-Gyarah) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Plot\n\nThe story follows two petty thieves, Tara (Govinda) and Sitara (Sanjay Dutt), who get on the bad side of two wanted criminals, Panther and Cobra (Gulshan Grover and [Ashish Vidyarthi](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashish-vidyarthi)), and must run for their lives.[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=522) They end up at the residence of Major Ram Singh ([Jackie Shroff](https://www.edgepedia.org/jackie-shroff)), a [Border Security Force](https://www.edgepedia.org/border-security-force) officer who is himself on the lookout for Panther and Cobra.[4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354538/fullcredits/) • [6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=522)\n\nRam Singh mistakes them for good people and shelters them, and the film's comedy turns on the thieves' betrayal of that hospitality. Panther and Cobra kidnap Tara and Sitara's mother ([Himani Shivpuri](https://www.edgepedia.org/himani-shivpuri)), forcing the pair to obey the criminals' instructions, which include betraying Ram Singh and kidnapping his son.[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=522) Apple TV's synopsis summarizes the setup the same way: on the run, the thieves end up at the home of a Major who takes them in but is eventually betrayed by them.[2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah/umc.cmc.7j98ca3s9s2f0j8n356lwxhrk)\n\n## Production and certification\n\nThe film was written by Yunus Sajawal, with dialogue credited to Aman Ahmad Jeffery and Bholu Khan among others.[1](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/b99b7e8a-85f3-5215-9ff3-1a4ec3a5b961/ek-aur-ek-gyarah) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354538/fullcredits/) In January 2003, Bollywood Hungama reported that the music rights had been acquired by Super Cassettes Industries Ltd. (T-Series), and that the film had already been censored in 18 reels with minor cuts, receiving a U/A certificate.[8](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/ghai-t-series-join-hands/) Apple TV lists the Indian rating as U, suitable for all ages.[2](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah/umc.cmc.7j98ca3s9s2f0j8n356lwxhrk)\n\n## Box office\n\n**India.** Box Office India records 225 screens, a first day of ₹11 million (₹1.10 crore), a first weekend of ₹31.9 million (₹3.19 crore), and a first week of ₹52.6 million (₹5.26 crore), for a total net gross of ₹117.1 million (₹11.71 crore) against a stated budget of ₹95 million (₹9.5 crore); the site's verdict is \"Below Average\", with about 5,710,000 footfalls.[3](https://boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=522) • [6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=522) Sacnilk's compilation gives slightly different figures, an India net of ₹115.7 million (₹11.57 crore) on a budget of ₹85 million (₹8.50 crore), and the same \"Below Average\" verdict.[9](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Ek_Aur_Ek_Gyarah_2003)\n\n**Overseas.** In the United States, Eros Entertainment opened the film wide on 28 March 2003 under the English title *1 + 1 = 11*, in 18 theaters. It grossed $92,342 on its opening weekend and $132,498 in total, with a 2.0-week average run per theater.[7](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Ek-Aur-Ek-Gyarah) Box Office India puts overseas gross at $480,000.[6](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=522)\n\n## Reception\n\nCritical response was poor. Rotten Tomatoes records a Tomatometer of 60% from a single review and more than 250 audience ratings; Namrata Joshi of *Outlook* gave it 1/4, writing that the only thing she would remember in the film is Govinda's singing.[10](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ek_aur_ek_gyarah) Audience opinion has been more divided: some viewers rank it among the funniest Indian films they have seen, while others call it forgettable, a split visible in the user reviews collected on the same page.[10](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ek_aur_ek_gyarah)\n\n## The 1981 film of the same name\n\nThe title also belongs to an earlier, unrelated Hindi film. *Ek Aur Ek Gyarah* (1981), directed by Ashok Roy, stars [Shashi Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/shashi-kapoor) and [Vinod Khanna](https://www.edgepedia.org/vinod-khanna), with music by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and runs about 2 hours 33 minutes; it is the version most often listed on streaming platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Eros Now.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah) • [12](https://erosnow.com/movie/watch/1059122/ek-aur-ekk-gyaraah) Streaming guides and databases frequently conflate the two, so the director and cast are the practical way to tell them apart: Ashok Roy with Shashi Kapoor indicates the 1981 film, David Dhawan with Sanjay Dutt and Govinda the 2003 film.[11](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), BFI](https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/b99b7e8a-85f3-5215-9ff3-1a4ec3a5b961/ek-aur-ek-gyarah)\n2. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah/umc.cmc.7j98ca3s9s2f0j8n356lwxhrk)\n3. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah, Box Office India (cast and crew)](https://boxofficeindia.com/cast_crew.php?movieid=522)\n4. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook, full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0354538/fullcredits/)\n5. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah: By Hook or by Crook (2003), OTTASIA](https://ottasia.com/title/movie/212502/ek-aur-ek-gyarah-by-hook-or-by-crook?country=SA)\n6. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah, Box Office India (movie story and figures)](https://www.boxofficeindia.com/movie-story.php?movieid=522)\n7. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), The Numbers](https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Ek-Aur-Ek-Gyarah)\n8. [Ghai-T-Series Join Hands, Bollywood Hungama (10 January 2003)](https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/ghai-t-series-join-hands/)\n9. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (2003), Sacnilk](https://www.sacnilk.com/movie/Ek_Aur_Ek_Gyarah_2003)\n10. [Ek Aur Ek Gyaraah, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ek_aur_ek_gyarah)\n11. [Ek Aur Ek Gyarah streaming, JustWatch (India)](https://www.justwatch.com/in/movie/ek-aur-ek-gyarah)\n12. [Ek Aur Ekk Gyaraah, Eros Now](https://erosnow.com/movie/watch/1059122/ek-aur-ekk-gyaraah)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Indian films (individual works) › Hindi films of the 2000s › Comedy films*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-aur-ek-gyarah", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-aur-ek-gyarah.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (एक और एक ग्यारह)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-aur-ek-gyarah. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (एक और एक ग्यारह)](https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-aur-ek-gyarah)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-aur-ek-gyarah](https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-aur-ek-gyarah). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Ek Aur Ek Gyarah (एक और एक ग्यारह)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/ek-aur-ek-gyarah. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Ek Aur Ek Gyarah, also By Hook or by Crook, is a 2003 Hindi action comedy directed by David Dhawan, produced by Subhash Ghai, starring Sanjay Dutt and Govinda as thieves; released 28 March 2003, distinct from the 1981 Shashi Kapoor film of the same name." }