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NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Exclusive: How Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra Found A Soulmate In Farhan Akhtar During Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
New Delhi: " Log bure nahi hote, haalat bure hote hain." And with that the conversation with Farhan Akhtar starts off on a bittersweet note as we reminisce about the legend that was Milkha Singh. While the world saw the many accolades and triumphs achieved by the world champion runner and an Olympian, what lurked in the shadows is a tragedy that taught him how to live life despite it. The 2013 biographical sports drama was expertly directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. Milkha Singh honoured with the title of The Flying Sikh, lost his entire family in the chaos and violence that had unfolded between Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs in the 1947 Partition. And that's what brings us back to how we started and as Milkha Singh himself said, "People weren't bad, circumstances made them so." People today only remember the iconic story of an ordinary man Milkha Singh, who fled and came to India, and thus began his extraordinary story of becoming one of the world's most renowned athletes. On the occasion of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag re-releasing in theatres on August 8, 2025, NDTV spoke to Farhan Akhtar, the actor who not only played Milkha Singh, but became Milkha Singh. And the director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who brought that vision to life. Mental Health Over Physical Fitness A lot of the conversation round Bhaag Milkha Bhaag even when it was released 12 years ago, was around Farhan Akhtar's commendable physical transformation. From bulking up to 75 kilos to shedding 15 killos for a leaner build, as the story moves towards Milkha Singh joining the army - Farhan Akhtar did the homework and the physical work. But what one often forgets is what it takes emotionally for an individual to go through such rigorous changes. Farhan Akhtar responds, "Thank you for asking that question. Absolutely right, because anyone who has gone through such a physical transformation will tell you that it's more emotionally challenging than it is physically. The only thing I focused on when I spoke to Milkha Singh and heard his story was that he worked harder than everybody else. So to me, representing that in the film was very important." Farhan Akhtar in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. That's the tweet. 🙏🙏🙏 — Chaitanya. (@illusionistChay) October 29, 2020 What If Bhaag Milkha Bhaag Was Made Today? 12 years is a long time indeed, as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag gears up to re-release again, times have changed and so have the many platforms that would react to it. The film released at a time when social media was not the beginning and end of everything. One of the most pertinent themes of the film was the Partition of 1947 where British India was divided into India and Pakistan. In the current light after the horrific Pahalgam attack earlier this year, the tensions between the two nations continue to boil over. Social media's grave reactions to stories revolving around the mere mention of Pakistan in visual or verbal form are rampant. How would a film like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag fare? Farhan says, "Social media always had an opinion, even then. It's just the number of voices have grown. A film like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and the passion with which it was made would resonate at any point of time it is released." The director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra adds to hit as he talks about the criticism and feedback that came towards the film, and how he chose to look at it at that point. He says, "There is always two sides to the coin. While you get the pats on your back, in our business, you need to be able to take it on the chin also. Finally, what counts is did your film stand the test of time? There is a sense of legacy there. Maybe that's why I make movies which are far and few. One in four years or five years I take my time." Bhaag Milkha Bhaag had its own share of controversies. To begin with, there was a lot of chatter around why the film would not work as it lacked the ostentatious touches of Hindi cinema glamour, it was also perceived to be a weak script. Some even questioned the casting of Farhan Akhtar who was not a Punjabi actor but was deemed fit to play a Punjabi character. The filmmaker responds, "I knew this story must be told. It's happened to me all the time. It happened with every film of mine, Rang De Basanti was another uphill task. And everybody asked me these questions. Other films are being made, and you are telling this story and that there's no romantic angle, action or drama. With Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, my collaboration with Farhan is outstanding. I just didn't find an actor. I found a soulmate." Sonam Kapoor Leaving A Lasting Impression Sonam Kapoor as Biro in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was the epitome of quiet strength. As the conversation around limited screen time for women in films continue to trend every now and then, Sonam as Biro was impactful and an unmissable thread in Milkha's life as his love interest and a beacon of emotional support. Farhan concurs as he adds, "In a film that was predominantly very testosterone, there was Sonam's character Biro. She was not just some random romantic interest who Milkha Singh's character had at one point and then he moved on. She was the catalyst to get him off the street and make him think seriously about his life. Her character was a very integral part in the film, not just romantically." Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says Divya Dutta who played the role of Milkha Singh's elder sister Ishar Kaur in the film, was the real heroine. #DivyaDutta has been around for 3 decades, quietly doing her job & becoming a benchmark. No frills & fancies, her repertoire boosts of extraordinary roles My fav scene 👇 One still makes you feel it! That's performance! Did we realise it's been 30 yrs of… — Mimansa Shekhar (@mimansashekhar) July 5, 2024 The director tells, "I told Divya, you are the heroine of the film. That's what Milkha Singh also used to say, 'My sister is the heroine in my life.' In every second sentence he mentioned his sister." Milkha Singh's Reaction To The Film One cannot contain pick one priceless memory of a legend like Milkha Singh. But the one that shall always remain in Farhan's heart forever was after the film had released. Farhan recalls, "We went to his house and I met him. We got a moment together, he sat down and I was sitting next to him and he put his hand on my hand and he said, 'You know, Farhan, he called me beta at that time, he said, you know, beta, you have added ten years to my life.' And I don't think any compliment or validation can get bigger than that." Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra adds, "Nobody can say how he felt because, how can you? Only the person knows when he sees his life unfold on screen. You can't describe that feeling. He had tears in his eyes." Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra On Staying With Milkha Singh And Prepping For The Film Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra covered miles to truly deepen the core of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag's story and that of the titular character. He went and stayed with Milkha Singh for a week to truly immerse himself into his life. The director recalls, "I got to know him through a friend of mine and he kind of made the meeting happen after I read his biography. I felt there was something there that I needed to know from the man himself. He told me his story and I told him to tell again. My flight left. I bought a couple pajamas and a toothbrush and a toothpaste and stayed there for seven days and didn't come back. There's something called gut feeling and till that time comes, I can't go back to Bombay. On the 3rd or 4th day, I wrote the first scene of the film, which was 1960 Olympics. Milkha is everyone's favourite." The filmmaker further elaborates on the crucial scene, "At the 200 meters mark, his coach shouts out bhaag and he turns to see how fast he has been. And he sees his childhood, He sees the man with a sword on a horse with blood dripping. And then I wrote the last scene where Milkha wins the race in Pakistan, and this time when he looks it's his childhood is smiling at him. It's not running in fear. So that was my story." Did Milkha Singh ever get to forgive the unfairness that life through at him. To lose his family, to lose them in such a tragedy. Was there remorse he could not get over? Farhan says this is where it comes a full circle where Milkha had said, " Log bure nahi hote, halat bure hote hai." Farhan adds, "He accepted it. It was just a very crazy time. And at that time, he used to say, 'There was a fever. So for me to carry that hate and to carry that anger around with me will destroy me. That's what he believed in and I guess that what got him going." As the film is all set to hit the screens on August 8, 2025, it's time to re-live history again through the cinematic lens of Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and the award-winning performance of Farhan Akhtar. With a smile, they await for the theatres to once again echoe with the sounds of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Exclusive: Stories like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag don't fade, they mature with time, says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra As Bhaag Milkha Bhaag turns 12, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra looks back at the film's journey, relevance and longevity in an exclusive conversation with Bombay Times. 'I grew up in Delhi idolising Milkha Singh, Dara Singh and Dhyan Chand. They were our Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Milkhaji didn't have shoes at one point, so he ran barefoot. I identified with it because our whole generation grew up without having proper facilities' What makes Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (BMB) relevant even today? Some stories don't fade out. They mature with time. Samay ke saath aur gaadha ho jata hai. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is one of them. The story is timeless not topical, so it does not lose its relevance with time. I always wanted to tell a story weaved around the partition of the country and in Milkha Singh's biography, I found that. Besides being the first biopic made on a sportsman in our country, there were two tracks in the film. One was Milkha Singh's journey, and the other was one of the most seminal point in modern Indian history -- the partition of India. The plot and the character are intertwined in each other. They coexist because of each other. I am glad it's re-releasing in theatres on August 8. Certain films are meant for the big screen. We should develop a culture of revisiting our classics. Not just for business, but legacy. That's more important for me. Why did you want to tell a story that was woven around the Partition? The partition is a seminal point because millions were celebrating the independence of the country, and millions were suffering the partition. I was born in the 60s. I grew up listening to both horrific and beautiful stories of partition. They left an indelible mark on me. When I entered college, we shifted to a colony in Delhi which was given to refugees of partition, and they rebuilt their lives from scratch there. Everybody had come from Pakistan there. I used to hear their stories of how they loved their land. Vatan aur desh mein farak hota hai (sentimentally). A Sindhi will consider Sindh as his land. A Punjabi will consider Punjab as his vatan and three-fourth of Punjab is in Pakistan. Borderline politics is another thing. I see myself through the lens of human beings. I don't see it from the lens of aaj kal kya ho raha hai, log kya soch rahe hain. I am drawn to common man. Ek aam aadmi kya kar raha hai, kya soch raha hai, uske sukh-dukh kya hai. What moves them is very important for me. As a filmmaker, you get to choose your gaze and mine is human. Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar on set of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag While the story belongs to Milkha Singh, it also resonates with your past. Tell us about that. It is a story of have-nots. Milkha had nothing to lose. When you don't come from privilege and you make it, that resonates with me a lot. I grew up in Delhi. I used to swim and play cricket in the National Stadium. Before my time, Milkha Singh, Dara Singh and Dhyan Chand used to practise there. We grew up on these three names. They were our Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Milkhaji didn't have shoes at one point and ran barefoot. We all identified with it because our entire generation grew up without having proper facilities. I come from a lower middle-class family. I could relate to characters who were thrilled when they got to wear a Team India blazer like Milkhaji did. He won his first race for a glass of milk and two eggs. He didn't win to make a world record or become a great athlete. I have practiced swimming because at the end of the practice section, we would get a glass of warm milk with Horlicks and two boiled eggs. It was great breakfast and that too for free. This is everybody's story in India. The late Milkha Singh on sets of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag At three hours and six minutes, the film's duration was much talked about. In hindsight, would you make any changes in terms of length or otherwise? It was a difficult story to mount because everyone said where is the romance, hero is just running. Where is the action? Athletics kaun dekhta hai India mein? Saare sawaal sahi thay. But it was important for me to prove the detractors wrong. If I didn't believe in what I made, I wouldn't make it in the first place. Pacing derives its essence from the story and how it is told. A length of the film is the length that works. A two-hour film can feel long and a three-and-a-half-hour film, can seem perfect. Look at the modern-day epics like Avatar, Oppenheimer, Brutalist (3 hours, 34 minutes). Lagaan, was longer than these at 3 hours and 44 minutes. When you're enjoying a movie, you are completely lost in that world and time flies. This whole length concern came from distribution. It never came from the audience or critics. It was a distribution thing because they believed they could pack one more show if a film is shorter. Longer films mean lesser shows and perhaps lesser business, but they are totally mistaken. All these films including Milkha dismissed that notion. Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, still from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag The casting of the film was one of its highlights. Take us through that process. If you cast the right actor for the right job, that's half the battle won. Every journalist has asked me if Farhan Akhtar was my first choice to play Milkha. He was the right choice. Let me put it like that. His eyes reminded me of Milka sir. They have the same intensity and depth, the way he looks at you. Farhan doesn't have many lines in the film because his eyes speak. We bumped into the club almost every day. I knew he's an athlete. He's good on the treadmill. He's good at sports. He's kept himself fit. So, the getting into shape part I knew he will cross the bridge. It was painful for him to go through that body transformation process in 18 months, but pain is a part of sports. Rishabh Pant met with an accident. He was out of action for a year. Look at the way he's bounced back. It's not a miracle. It's a story of inspiration and determination. When you're playing a character like Milkha, something intangible happens to you. Farhan didn't play the role. He became the part which is my brief to all my actors. Don't play yourself. Play the part. 'Sonam only charged Rs11 for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' 'When I approached Sonam Kapoor , I clearly told her she would appear for 15 minutes. Her character changes Milkha's life by making him question his choices. I told her she won't appear later in the film, and I don't know if she will appear in the trailer or the poster. She heard me out and said the film must be made, and she will charge me a bomb for it. I told her bata dena fees, koshish karenge. Her contract came, and she had only charged me `11 as a shagun. She brought so much dignity to the part. '
News18
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Farhan Akhtar Recalls Emotional Meeting Between Milkha Singh And Fauja Singh: 'He Hugged Him'
Farhan Akhtar and Rakeysh Mehra remember the day Fauja Singh hugged Milkha Singh at a London gurdwara, calling it a beautiful and unforgettable moment. As Bhaag Milkha Bhaag gears up for its theatrical re-release on August 8, 2025, actor Farhan Akhtar and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra are revisiting some of the most emotional and defining moments connected to the film—including a heartwarming encounter with another legendary athlete, the late Fauja Singh. Fauja Singh, often dubbed the 'Turbaned Tornado," passed away on July 14 in a tragic hit-and-run accident in his birthplace, Bias Pind near Jalandhar, at the age of 114. A global icon and the world's oldest British-Indian marathon runner, Singh's untimely death has cast a sombre shadow over the celebrations surrounding Bhaag Milkha Bhaag's re-release. Speaking to NDTV, Farhan Akhtar expressed deep grief over Singh's passing. 'Yes, Fauja Singh was here in London. I remember meeting him. However, at that time, all of us were so caught up in the Bhaag Milkha Bhaag promotional junket that we didn't have the opportunity to spend much time with him. But I'm, of course, very familiar with him. I'm familiar with all his achievements. It is truly tragic how he died." Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra vividly recalled the emotional meeting between Fauja Singh and Milkha Singh at the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall, London, in July 2013. 'We went to South London. We were at the gurdwara, where we offered our prayers, and Fauja Singh was also there. Milkha Sir and he hugged each other. It was so great to see them like that. Unfortunately, he died in an accident. He would have lived forever. It's just sad the way life took him away from us." Fauja Singh's death occurred when he was struck by a speeding vehicle while crossing a road in his village. He sustained a severe head injury and succumbed to it during treatment. Punjab Police acted swiftly, arresting the driver, Canada-based Amritpal Singh Dhillon, within 30 hours. Harvinder Singh Virk, Senior Superintendent of Police, Jalandhar Rural, confirmed the arrest and praised the investigative team. The chance meeting between Milkha Singh and Fauja Singh, two titans of Indian athleticism, now carries even deeper significance. Their embrace at the gurdwara remains etched in the memories of those who witnessed it—a symbol of mutual respect, shared legacy, and unyielding spirit. With Bhaag Milkha Bhaag returning to the big screen, audiences will be reminded not only of Milkha Singh's inspiring journey from refugee to Olympian but also of the quiet strength of another Sikh icon who defied age and limits. As Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra put it, 'He would have lived forever. It's just sad the way life took him away from us." First Published: July 17, 2025, 14:14 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Khaleej Times
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Farhan Akhtar's 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' to release again on July 18
Farhan Akhtar's hit film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is all set to released again in theatres on July 18. The film, which was directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, depicted the life and times of Milkha Singh, one of India's most renowned athletes and a former national champion in the 400-metres sprint. The movie also depicts his inspiring journey, starting from his traumatic childhood during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, where he lost most of his family members, to becoming a successful athlete and a national hero. 'Bhaag Milka Bhaag' received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. Akhtar's portrayal of Singh was highly praised for his dedication and transformation into the character. Sonam Kapoor also starred in the film. Milkha Singh died on June 18, 2021.
India Gazette
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Farhan Akhtar's 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' to be re-released on July 18
ANI 14 Jul 2025, 20:04 GMT+10 Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 14 (ANI): Farhan Akhtar's hit film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' is all set to be re-released in theatres. The film, which was directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, will be out in cinema halls once again on July 18. Milkha Singh was one of India's most renowned athletes and a former national champion in the 400 meters race. The film depicts his inspiring journey, starting from his traumatic childhood during the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, where he lost most of his family members, to becoming a successful athlete and a national hero. The film received critical acclaim and was a commercial success. Farhan Akhtar's portrayal of Milkha Singh was highly praised for his dedication and transformation into the Kapoor also starred in the film. Milkha Singh passed away on June 18, 2021. (ANI)
