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Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu

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Not to be confused with Ek Main Aur Ek Tu (1986 film).

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu
Theatrical release poster
Directed byShakun Batra
Written byAyesha Devitre
Shakun Batra
Produced byHiroo Yash Johar
Karan Johar
Ronnie Screwvala
Starring
CinematographyDonald McAlpine
Edited byAsif Ali Shaikh
Music bySongs:
Amit Trivedi
Score:
Clinton Cerejo[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byUTV Motion Pictures
Release date
  • 10 February 2012 (2012-02-10)
Running time
111 minutes[2]
CountryIndia
LanguagesHindi
English
Budget₹360 million (US$4.3 million)[3]
Box office₹721 million (US$8.5 million)[4]

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (transl. That's me and you) is a 2012 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by debutant Shakun Batra, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ayesha Devitre.[5] It was produced by Karan Johar and Hiroo Yash Johar under Dharma Productions, in collaboration with Ronnie Screwvala of UTV Motion Pictures. The film stars Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor, with supporting performances from Boman Irani, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Ram Kapoor.[6] Set in Las Vegas, the narrative follows Rahul Kapoor, a rigid architect who, after losing his job and a night of intoxicated impulsiveness, accidentally marries the free-spirited Riana Braganza. As the two decide to annul the marriage and develop a friendship, Rahul gradually falls for Riana, complicating their evolving relationship.

Principal photography took place in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pataudi, and Mumbai. The music was composed by Amit Trivedi, with background score by Clinton Cerejo and lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya. Inspired by the dialogue-driven romantic comedies of Woody Allen, the film marked a stylistic departure from typical Bollywood romances.

Released theatrically on 10 February 2012, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu received positive reviews from critics, who praised its performances, dialogues, and restrained treatment of romance. The film emerged as a moderate commercial success, grossing ₹53.2 crore (US$6.6 million) worldwide.[7][8]

Plot

[edit]

Rahul Kapoor, a 25-year-old architect based in Las Vegas, lives under the influence of his controlling parents, Sushil and Seema Kapoor, who have dictated most of his life decisions. After being laid off from his job, he conceals the truth from his parents and searches for new opportunities. During a therapy session, he meets Riana Braganza, a free-spirited hairstylist recently heartbroken and also unemployed. A misunderstanding leads Riana to believe Rahul is stalking her, but she later realises the mistake and apologises.

On Christmas Eve, the two go out drinking, and a night of inebriated revelry culminates in an impulsive marriage. Shocked the next morning, they mutually decide to annul the wedding. With nowhere to stay after being evicted, Riana moves in with Rahul temporarily. Over the course of a week, they grow close, with Riana encouraging Rahul to explore his passion for photography. Rahul develops romantic feelings for her, which she does not reciprocate.

Riana invites Rahul to join her on a trip to India for New Year's. Initially hesitant, he agrees. In Mumbai, Riana introduces him to her family, intensifying his feelings. After an unsuccessful attempt to kiss her, Rahul encounters his mother and fabricates a story about a work assignment. At a subsequent family gathering, frustrated by the burden of expectations, Rahul confronts his parents and reveals the truth about his life.

He returns to Riana to apologise, and they reconcile as friends. Back in Las Vegas, they finalise their annulment. Rahul starts a new job and embraces photography, content with his life and hopeful about the future.

Cast

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  • Imran Khan as Rahul Kapoor, an uptight architect living in Las Vegas. Following the loss of his job, he ends up marrying Riana Braganza due to alcohol-resulting drunkenness. Khan describes his role by saying, "Rahul has had a very restricted life. His parents have always told him what to do, how to behave, what to study, what career to pursue and so on and so forth. Even his hobbies have been decided by his parents. He has never had a spontaneous moment in his life where he has done something for himself. He is actually a very sad, lonely and tragic guy but he doesn't realize it."[9]
  • Kareena Kapoor as Riana Braganza (Ri), a hairstylist who tries to add zing to Rahul Kapoor's monotonous life following their marriage. In an interview with The Times of India, Kapoor describes her character and explains, "Riana knows what she is doing. Even though she does not have a house or a job, she is a positive person... very similar to the way I am."[10]
  • Ratna Pathak Shah as Seema Kapoor, Rahul's mother, a fiercely dominating woman.
  • Boman Irani as Sushil Kapoor, Rahul's father, a strict disciplinarian.
  • Ram Kapoor as D. K. Bulani, a friend of Rahul's father, who tries to help Rahul overcome his low self-esteem.
  • Dana Lewis as Dayna Bulani, D.K's wife who makes sexual advances at Rahul.
  • Soniya Mehra as Anusha Jethmalani, Rahul's ex-girlfriend.
  • Rajesh Khattar as Mr. Shah.
  • Nikhil Kapoor as Phil Braganza, Riana's father.
  • Zenobia Shroff as Nicole Braganza, Riana's mother.
  • Manasi Scott as Steff Braganza Sharma (Steffy), Karan's wife, Riana's sister.
  • Mukul Chadda as Karan Sharma, Steph's husband, Riana's brother-in-law.
  • Avantika Malik in a special appearance during the song Auntyji.

Production

[edit]
A major part of Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu was set in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Development

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Pre-production on Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu began in 2010 when Karan Johar announced a collaboration with debutant director Shakun Batra.[11] The film was conceived as a character-driven romantic comedy set over two weeks in the lives of its protagonists.[12] Johar described the narrative style as inspired by Woody Allen's filmmaking, emphasizing conversational scenes and naturalistic sequences.[13]

Initially working under the title Short Term Shaadi, the film's name was changed in August 2011. Johar explained that the earlier title was temporary and did not align with the film’s tone.[5] The final title, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, was inspired by the song of the same name from the 1975 film Khel Khel Mein.[14]

Casting

[edit]

Imran Khan was cast in the lead role following the success of I Hate Luv Storys (2010), his prior collaboration with Johar’s Dharma Productions. To pair him with a fresh face, Kareena Kapoor was selected for the female lead.[15] For the role, Kapoor altered her appearance by cutting her hair short and adding red streaks.[16] According to Johar, Khan and Kapoor were cast for their ability to embody their characters' personalities—Khan’s role as a perfectionist and Kapoor’s as a free-spirited woman reminiscent of her character in Jab We Met (2007).[13]

Filming

[edit]

Principal photography commenced in November 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, following Khan’s completion of Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.[17] Additional sequences were filmed in Los Angeles, Pataudi (Haryana), and Mumbai.[18][19] Las Vegas was chosen for its distinct character, with director Batra noting that the setting was integral to the story. As the schedule coincided with winter, production ran double shifts for efficiency.[9]

Rumors suggesting the film was an adaptation of What Happens in Vegas (2008) were denied by Johar, who clarified that Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu was an original work.[20]

Soundtrack

[edit]
Main article: Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (soundtrack)

The music rights of Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu were acquired by T-Series for ₹60 million (US$710,000), marking the first Dharma Productions soundtrack not released by Sony Music India since 1998.[21] The soundtrack, composed by Amit Trivedi with lyrics by Amitabh Bhattacharya, was released on 25 December 2011.[22]

Release

[edit]

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu was released worldwide on 10 February 2012, aligning with Valentine's Day celebrations. The film opened to positive reviews and achieved moderate commercial success.[23]

Prior to release, the film's promotional materials encountered issues with the Central Board of Film Certification. The board objected to the use of the word "sex" in the trailer and requested its removal. Additionally, a scene showing Kapoor pinching Khan's buttocks was deemed inappropriate for television and was edited out of the broadcast promos.[24]

Reception

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Box office

[edit]

Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu opened to strong numbers in metropolitan multiplexes, grossing approximately ₹52.5 million on its opening day in India.[25][26] Strong weekend growth brought its first three-day total to around ₹210 million. It performed steadily during weekdays, especially on Valentine's Day, which saw a notable uptick in collections.[27][28] At the end of its theatrical run in India, Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu grossed approximately ₹398 million net.[29]

Internationally, the film earned £242,177 in the UK from 53 screens and $1.7 million in the US from 111 screens during its opening weekend.[8] Box Office India classified the film as a "moderate success."[30]

Critical reception

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Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for its performances, writing, and unconventional narrative. Rachel Saltz of The New York Times noted the film was "rather sweet and sometimes even a little unexpected."[31] Avijit Ghosh of The Times of India gave it 4/5, calling it “the sweetest heartbreak Bollywood has conjured in a long, long time.”[32] Taran Adarsh of Bollywood Hungama also rated it 4/5, commending its "refined, smart, lively" approach and strong character writing.[33] Reviews from NDTV, DNA, and India Today echoed similar sentiments, citing the film's light tone and grounded storytelling.[34][35][36]

Other reviewers offered more tempered praise. Mid-Day and Rediff.com each gave it 3.5 and 3 stars respectively, calling it a “small packet of joy” and “pleasant, if unremarkable.”[37][38] Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave it 3/5, appreciating its dialogue-driven narrative and chemistry between leads.[39] However, some critics, including The Indian Express and The Economic Times, felt the film lacked novelty, while Yahoo! panned it as formulaic despite its intentions.[40][41][42]

Accolades

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Award Date of the ceremony Category Recipients Result Ref.
Zee Cine Awards 6 January 2013 Most Promising Director Shakun Batra nom [43]
Screen Awards 12 January 2013 Best Actor (Popular Choice) Imran Khan nom [44]
Best Actress (Popular Choice) Kareena Kapoor nom
Most Promising Debut Director Shakun Batra nom
Filmfare Awards 20 January 2013 Best Choreography Bosco–Caesar (for "Aunty Ji") won [45]
Stardust Awards 26 January 2013 Best Actor in a Comedy or Romance Imran Khan nom [46]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: A perfect ten". The Sunday Indian. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  2. ^ "EK MAIN AUR EKK TU (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. 6 February 2012. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  3. ^ "'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu' going steady at box office". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 25 July 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b Bollywood Hungama News Network (24 August 2011). "KJo reveals first look of Imran-Kareena starrer Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  6. ^ Nivas, Namita (3 May 2011). "Ram Kapoor focusses on film projects". The Indian Express. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  7. ^ ETC Channel Official Website. "Box Office Collections". ETC Bollywood Business. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Week One Territorial Breakdown". BoxOfficeIndia.com. 20 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
  9. ^ a b Bollywood Hungama News Network (16 January 2012). "I play a sad and lonely guy in Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: Imran Khan". Indian Express. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  10. ^ Sinha, Seema (1 February 2012). "I wanted to work with a younger hero: Kareena". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  11. ^ "Imran to romance Kareena now". The Times of India. 5 July 2011. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Bollywood has opened up to new ideas". Financial Express. 1 February 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
  13. ^ a b PTI (6 January 2012). "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu inspired by Woody Allen films: Karan Johar". India Today. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  14. ^ "Rishi Kapoor's songs inspire Bollywood film titles". The Indian Express. 14 December 2011.
  15. ^ "Karan Johar wants to cash in on Imran Khan". The Times of India. 1 July 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  16. ^ "Imran, Kareena pair up for 'Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu'". The Indian Express. 19 September 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  17. ^ Times News Network (19 August 2011). "Kat or Bebo for Imran?". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  18. ^ "Imran-Kareena: Bonding in LA". Hindustan Times. 7 December 2011. Archived from the original on 14 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
  19. ^ Kareena invites homesick Imran to Pataudi. The Times of India. 24 September 2011. Archived from the original on 25 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2011.
  20. ^ "'Short Term Shaadi' not an adaptation: Karan Johar". The Indian Express. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  21. ^ IANS (8 February 2012). "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu sets cash registers ringing". India Today. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  22. ^ Bollywood Hungama News Network (15 June 2011). "T-Series, Dharma Productions begin musical association with Short Term Shaadi". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
  23. ^ "Critics' Verdict: EMAET is a must watch". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  24. ^ "'Ek Mai Aur Ekk Tu' trailer in trouble again". The Indian Express. 14 January 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  25. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Has Fair First Day". BoxOfficeIndia.com. 11 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012.
  26. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Has Decent Opening At Multiplexes". BoxOfficeIndia.com. 11 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  27. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Has Excellent Tuesday". BoxOfficeIndia.com. 15 February 2012. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  28. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Has Good Weekend". BoxOfficeIndia.com. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  29. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Monday Business". BoxOfficeIndia.com. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 April 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  30. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu fares well overseas". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  31. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (2012)". The New York Times. 12 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  32. ^ Avijit Ghosh (9 February 2012). "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu – The Times of India review". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  33. ^ Adarsh, Taran. "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu Movie Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  34. ^ Dasgupta, Piyali. "Review: Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu". NDTV. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  35. ^ "Review: Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu". Daily News and Analysis. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  36. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu movie review". India Today. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  37. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: Sensitive and delightful film". MiD DAY. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  38. ^ Sukanya Verma. "Review: Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu is a treat". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  39. ^ Masand, Rajeev (10 February 2012). "Review by Rajeev Msand". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  40. ^ Gupta, Sbhubhra (10 February 2012). "Review by Sbhubhra Gupta". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  41. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu: Movie Review". The Economic Times. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  42. ^ "Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu review". Yahoo!. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  43. ^ "Winners of Zee Cine Awards 2013 | Latest Movie Features - Bollywood Hungama". www.bollywoodhungama.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  44. ^ "Winners of 19th Annual Colors Screen Awards | Latest Movie Features - Bollywood Hungama". www.bollywoodhungama.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  45. ^ "58th Idea Filmfare Awards nominations are here! | Filmfare.com". www.filmfare.com. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
  46. ^ Shafi, Faisal (30 January 2013). "Max Stardust Awards 2013 Winners". DESIblitz. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
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