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Bollywood steals in twos

We're excited about the new Ishqiya out this Friday, but the concept of the thieving duo isn't new to Hindi cinema. Here's a look at some memorable pilfering pairs, down the years:

Ishqiya

Abhishek Chaubey's directorial debut sees Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah as crooks on the run who happen to fall in love with sexy widow Vidya Balan. After a soundtrack that good, we expect fireworks.

Hera Pheri

It's all about a wrong number.

 

Priyadarshan embarked on a string of Southern-remakes following this film featuring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and a hapless, unforgettable Paresh Rawal as schemers trying to weasel money out of kidnappers.

Ek Aur Ek Gyarah

Sanjay Dutt and Govinda star in this David Dhawan film as a couple of con-men on the run from the cops.

 

There is much inanity as they irk a Major and take on a cartoony villain named Cobra, but all's well that ends well.

Bluffmaster

Abhishek Bachchan plays a con-man in this Rohan Sippy film where he befriends another con-artist, Ritesh Deshmukh.

 

The two set out to dupe Nana Patekar but the con being played isn't by them at all. A fun, twisty film.

Do Aur Do Paanch

How can you go wrong when a film stars Amitabh Bachchan and Shashi Kapoor as crooks posing as teachers (Bachchan, gym and Kapoor, music) to kidnap a naive, shrill brat? A fantastic lark, this.

Shaan

Ramesh Sippy's film featured a couple of pairs of con-artists, with Bindiya Goswami and Johnny Walker as one duo and Amitabh and Shashi as the other, before they join hands to form a confusedly crooked foursome.

Bunty Aur Babli

Abhishek and Rani star in this Shaad Ali film about two middle-class dreamers too impatient to wait for their chance to shine.

 

So they bring out the outrageous stories and lie their way through, even selling the Taj Mahal.

Khel

In this Rakesh Roshan take on the classic Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Madhuri Dixit and Anupam Kher play a pair of con-artists who get away with a lot, including horsewhipping Anil Kapoor -- who's also a con-man.

Victoria 203

Navin Nischol and Saira Banu might be the lead pair in this film directed by Brij, but the true heroes are Ashok Kumar and Pran as Raja and Rana, a pair of quick thinking con-artists.

Deewana Mastana

In this David Dhawan film, Anil Kapoor and Johnny Lever are small-town robbers posing as millionaires so Kapoor can impress wealthy Juhi Chawla and win her affections.

 

However, they haven't counted on the mentally weak Govinda as a rival.