Who directed Aar Ya Paar?

Aar Ya Paar was directed by Ketan Mehta and released in 1997. Ketan Mehta is a prominent filmmaker in Hindi film industry.

Who stars in Aar Ya Paar?

Aar Ya Paar stars Harish Patel alongside Deepa Sahi, Jackie Shroff, Kamal Sidhu, Satish Shah, Manoj Pahwa. The film marks a collaboration between Harish Patel and director Ketan Mehta within Hindi cinema.

Is Aar Ya Paar worth watching?

Aar Ya Paar holds a rating of 4.9/10.

What is the runtime of Aar Ya Paar?

Aar Ya Paar has a runtime of 3 hours (180 minutes total).

Is Aar Ya Paar suitable for family viewing?

Aar Ya Paar carries an A certificate — adults only. It is not suitable for children or family viewing.

Aar Ya Paar(1997)

4.9/10

Hindi•180 mins•theatrical•Updated 5 May 2026

Aar Ya Paar is a 1997 Hindi crime thriller film directed by Ketan Mehta. It stars Jackie Shroff, Deepa Sahi, Kamal Sidhu, and Paresh Rawal. The story follows Shekhar Khosla, a poor man who marries a wealthy woman for her money. He continues an affair with her secretary, Anu, and plots murder when his wife discovers the betrayal. The film is inspired by James Hadley Chase's novel 'The Sucker Punch'. It was noted for its dark tone and anti-hero protagonist, which was unusual for Bollywood at the time. Despite critical appreciation, the film underperformed at the box office due to its controversial subject. It was released on January 31, 1997, in India.

Director:Ketan Mehta

Mood:

darkemotionalsuspenseful

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Where to watch:

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Quick Facts

Theatrical Release: 1 January 1997
Director: Ketan Mehta
Language: Hindi
Runtime: 3h
Rating: 4.9/10

Storyline

Shekhar Khosla marries rich Veena for her money but keeps seeing her secretary, Anu. When Veena finds out, she threatens to leave him with nothing. Shekhar and Anu decide to kill her. But after the murder, Shekhar learns Anu never loved him. Now the police are closing in, and an old girlfriend wants revenge.

“Greed has a price.”

Film Details

4.9Rating

180Minutes

HindiLanguage

ACertificate

Release Date1 January 1997

Release Typetheatrical

Original Titleआर या पार

Parental Guide

Violence

High

Language

Moderate

Sex / Nudity

Moderate

Drugs

Mild

Intensity

High

Vibe & Tags

Mood

darkemotionalsuspenseful

Themes

corruptionidentitysurvivallove

Tonegritty

Pacingslow-burn

Complexitymoderate

Audiencemultiplex

Best Withwith-partner

Violence3

Emotion4

Humor2

Rewatchability3

Cast & Crew

Kamal SidhuVeena Sanghvi

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Ajit VachaniSalim

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Ravi KhandelkarHargovind

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Ritu ShivpuriJulie

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Reunion Meter

Frequent partnerships reunited for Aar Ya Paar

Cast reunions in this film: Jackie Shroff & Paresh Rawal (20 films together), Paresh Rawal & Satish Shah (8 films together), Paresh Rawal & Ketan Mehta (6 films together), Deepa Sahi & Ketan Mehta (6 films together), Jackie Shroff & Satish Shah (3 films together), and Paresh Rawal & Harish Patel (3 films together).

Trivia

The film's title 'Aar Ya Paar' translates to 'Win or Lose' in English, reflecting its high-stakes thriller plot.
This was one of the few films where Jackie Shroff played an alcoholic character struggling with personal demons.
Director Ketan Mehta is better known for historical and social dramas, making this a rare foray into the thriller genre.
The movie featured a special appearance by veteran actor Sadashiv Amrapurkar in a supporting role.
It was shot extensively in Mumbai, capturing the city's nightlife and urban atmosphere of the late 1990s.
The film's music was composed by Anand-Milind, known for their work in many popular Bollywood films of the era.
Despite its thriller genre, the movie performed poorly at the box office and is not widely remembered today.