Akshay Kumar the new Dara Singh?

After Farhan Akhtar as Milkha Singh and Priyanka Chopra as Mary Kom, it could be Akshay Kumar as Dara Singh. Director Rohit Jugraj has approached Dara Singh’s son Vindoo with a project with Akshay Kumar playing the lead. Apparently Akshay is keen to portray Dara Singh, but needs time to work on his physique.

Says Vindoo, “Yes, Rohit Jugraj has approached me to make a film on my father’s life. Akshay is the one chosen to play my father in this project. However, he would need time to bulk up. Also, all these things (cricket betting scam) happened and I didn’t want to embarrass Akshay by connecting with him at that time.” Interestingly, there is another Dara Singh bio-pic in the pipeline, this one in Punjabi. Says Vindoo, “Yes, I’ve been approached by the producers of Jatt & Juliet with a Punjabi film where they want Sangram Singh to play my dad. Let’s see which one materialises first.”

Carl Lewis watches Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, calls Milkha Singh

American track and field star Carl Lewis watched Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and he was so deeply moved by the biopic that he called former Olympian Milkha Singh to convey his appreciation.

Confirming the story, the film's director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said: "Yes, Carl Lewis indeed rang up Milkha Singh after seeing the film. We all hoped Milkhaji's life-story would make an inspirational impact. But we never imagined the impact would be so widespread."

It is celebration time for the entire Bhaag Milkha Bhaag team, including Farhan Akhtar who plays the main lead in it. While Mehra's biopic on the amazing life of Milkha Singh has become an all-India success with the total collections over the weekend being Rs33.35 crore, its impact seems to resonate far beyond the Flying Sikh's homeland.

The film's co-producer Viacom 18's COO Ajit Adhare said: "This is not a film. It's a movement. Rarely do we get a film that goes beyond entertainment. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag addresses itself to that part of the individual which needs to be harnessed and tapped for a full identity to emerge. How many films can you watch with your parents and your children and just be proud to be an Indian? 

After Lagaan and Rang De Basanti, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag has that kind of an impact."

Rajnikanth & Chiranjeevi eager to watch BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG!!

Farhan Akhtar's film BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG has become the talk of the town. The audiences are completely mind boggled with the biopic.

Even the buzz in the film industry was big. So much so that, the superstars of South, Rajnikanth andChiranjeevi after watching the trailer of the film have reached out to Farhan Akhtar to express their wish to watch the film. 

BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG, which is a biopic on the Flying Sikh, the legendary athlete, comes across as a huge inspiration for people and is a must watch. 

CHECK OUT: Athlete P.T Usha watches Farhan's BHAAG MILKHA BHAAG

Farhan is very humbled and glad to know that superstars like Rajnikanth and Chiranjeevi have conveyed their yearning to watch the film. 

He is very pleased with the kind of response the film is getting and how the word of mouth has traveled even beyond B-town to the south as well. 

Spokesperson of the film 'Yes, Rajnikanth and Chiranjeevi both have reached out to us and expressed their wish to watch the film. We are overwhelmed with the fabulous response the film is getting.' 

Movie Review: Don't miss 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' at any cost!!

Starring Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Rebecca Breeds, Divya Dutta, Prakash Raj, Pavan Malhotra

Witten by Prasoon Joshi

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Rating: * * * * *

History is created in several ways. One of them is cinema. And if Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Bhaag Milkha Bhaag seems like a near-flawless homage to the flying spirit of India's greatest runner it is partly because the story, so nimbly woven into a pastiche of drama emotion humour and pathos by Prasoon Joshi, is in no hurry to keep pace with the on-screen Milkha's breathless sprint.

The story of super-sprinter Milkha Singh unfolds in this exceptional bio-pic at its own volition. There's no effort here `to tell a story`, to create an impression or to whip up a dramatic storm to captivate audiences. The synergy in the storytelling seems subliminal. 

Still, we the audience, fed week after week on mediocrity masquerading as cinema, are riveted to the story Milkha Singh for over 3 hours of playing-time? 


How come? ! Well, to begin with it is Milkha Singh's own powerful life as India's superstar sportsperson that sweeps us into the bio-pic. Milkha was so poor he couldn't afford running shoes, and when he got them he didn't know how to run in them. When milk was offered in the army in exchange of running practice he grabbed it (the run and the milk) with both hands. 

A victim of India's brutal Partition, Milkha's story was waiting to be told. Thankfully no one before Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra saw cinematic potential in Milkha's story. 

If Milkha's story had to be told, the storyteller had to be a master craftsman, and one who doesn't waste space in self-congratulatory flourishes. Rakeysh Ompraksh Mehra reins in the drama. 


With immense help from Prasoon Joshi, Mehra harnesses Milkha's life-story into an experience that is Pure Cinema and yet undiluted and uncompromised by the mandatory often silly illogical and idiotic semantics of mainstream commercial cinema.

The absolutely seamless editing (by P. Bharathi) is impressive. The film is very stylishly cut. But not at the cost of losing the saadgi, the innate ascetism of the sportsman-hero. 

And yes, there are songs, heart-gamboling songs composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. But they are so effortlessly woven into Milkha's saga we don't see them as `song breaks`. 

We see them as expressions of that innocent joy which springs out of Mehra's Milkha like milk from a cow's unconditionally nurturing udder. 


And yes, this is as good a time as any to tell you, Farhan Akhtar dances the Bhangra as well as any Punjabi. Actually, he doesn't dance. He just flows with the rhythm. I've never seen any actor dance with such rhapsodic abundance. Neither have I seen any actor run like Farhan. 

I don't know how fast Milka ran. But Farhan's Milkha doesn't fake it for even a second. When he runs, he really runs. When he stumbles and takes a fall we flinch and wince in our seats. Method acting? Farhan as Milkha takes us beyond that. 

His body-language and emotion-expression as Milkha is so pitch-perfect (pun intended) we forget this is not the real Milkha in front of our eyes. Not since Balraj Sahni in Garam Hawa have we seen an actor vanish so effortlessly into his character. This is as real as it gets. 


Farhan doesn't 'play' Milkha. The actor occupies Milkha, mind body and soul. There are episodes in this astonishingly well-structured bio-pic where Farhan's oneness with Milkha equals Ben Kingsley's empathy with Mahatma Gandhi. 

In one sequence after a night of binging with a pretty Australian girl (Rebecca Breeds, pretty and amiable) Farhan stands in front of the mirror and slaps himself for messing up on the field.

Each slap makes us flinch. These are not faked slaps. Farhan takes Milkha's pain embarrassment and self-abnegation on his chin. 


Mehra's is not a simple sports-to-glory tale like Chariots Of Fire. This is not just a film about a sportsperson who brought untold glory to our country. 

As told by Mehra Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is the story of an individual's journey from nullity to pinnacles of success in a world where politics and violence are constant reminders of how little an individual's aspirations matter in the larger often murkier scheme. 


To compare it with Paan Singh Tomar would be akin to comparing the voices of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. 

In Prasoon Joshi's interpretation of Milkha's amazing success-story, yearning is the cornerstone to achievement.

In 1947 when India became two nations we see little Milkha (Jabtej Singh, endearing) run for his life to escape the savage butchery that snatches away almost his entire family. (Only his dear sister, played wonderfully by Divya Dutt) remains. This is the Sholay massacre without a Gabbar to rationalize the evil. As we see it, Milkha never stopped running since the trauma of Partition.


The 'run' as a metaphor of life's expedient circumstances, runs through the narrative. Mehra's storytelling moves into crucial episodes in Milkha's life unannounced. The brilliant unsparing editor P Bharathi follows no predictable pattern. Yet, the editing is not selfconsciously elusive and mystifying as it was Anurag Basu's Barfi. 

Happily the screen- time is as much taken up with Milkha's record-breaking achievements on the field, as it is with vignettes from his personal life.


There is a robust heartwarming romance between Milkha and the vessel-friendly kudi Biro (Sonam Kapoor, looking prettier than ever). Writer Joshi and director Mehra invest inexpressible warmth in the protagonist's courtship scenes. We've seen this kind of love blossom on Punjab's soil before. But it it still feels special and unique. 

Farhan does the rest. 


He gets tremendous support from other actors, specially Divya Dutta who is incomparably sincere as Milkha's supportive sister. Don't miss the sequence between the siblings where Milkha makes his sister wear his sports blazer. It wets eyes while transporting us into the Milkha innerworld. 

Pavan Malhotra as Milkha's coach is as usual, first-rate. Really, this actor should be doing a lot more work! 


But then, Indian filmmakers seldom have the vision and insight that Mehra invests into almost every moment of this unforgettable tale. There are no exaggerated dramatic flourishes here, no playing to the galleries. 

Unlike other period films in recent times which have conveniently and lazily resorted to antiques, artifacts and vintage songs, 1950s in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag simply and effortlessly emerges from the character and his milieu. 


Binod Pradhan's camera glides across Milkha's inner and outer world searching for a meeting point between the two worlds through visuals that suggest a comfortable kinship between feelings and their geopolitical counter-point. We often see Milkha on screen in situations where his emotional world is manifested in the interaction with the people around him. 

Binod Pradhan's cinematography tells it like it is. There is a complex design to the seeming simplicity of this saga of a simple Sikh who would guzzle two cans of ghee on challenge and run to the winning post on feet mauled by jealous rivals. 


Who said life could ever be easy for those who aspire to fly higher than the rest? The beautiful irony of Milkha Singh's life that this consummate bio-pic captures so ably, is that he really didn't aspire to anything. He ran simply because he had to. 

The rest, as they say, is history. Rakeysh Mehra looks at this life of stunning serendipity with tremendous warmth, hope and longing. 

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is the kind of cinema that doesn't tempt us to share the protagonist's life with any false hopes. We the audience are driven into a desperate urge to share Milkha's life not only because he ran fast but because he wasn't afraid to stumble, falter and fall. 


Ironically this film on Milkha rarely slips up, if ever. 

At one point in an under-punctuated flashback we hear Milkha confide in his sweetheart that he would like the government to declare a national holiday in his honour. 


I recommend a national holiday for the entire nation to go and see Run Milkha Run. It makes the other recent high-profile acclaimed films look hopelessly inadequate.

Milkha Singh's Life Is A Great Reference Point For Young People: Farhan Akhtar

Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar has been given the seal of approval for his performance as India's legendary sprinter Milkha Singh in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' by the man himself.

"Farhan has played the part so well, he is almost a duplicate copy of Milkha Singh from every angle. He made me cry," said the 77-year-old runner.

"India is falling behind today in the field of athletics. That is the reason I wanted this story told so that the coming generation can know about Milkha Singh and all the hard work and sweat that goes into athletics. My hope now is that the gold medal that slipped from my grip in the Rome Olympics, can be won by them in my lifetime," Milkha said at the gala screening of the film in central London on Friday evening.

He was joined on the red carpet by the film's lead actors- Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor, as well as director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and writer Prasoon Joshi.

"I think every generation needs reference points and Milkha Singh's life is a great reference point for young people. His life can be a blueprint at some level that it can never get tougher than this," said Akhtar, who trained formonths to embody the character of the toned athlete on screen.

'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', which releases worldwide on July 12, traces the story of the sprinter's life through the vagaries of the Partition of India in 1947, during which his family was brutally killed, to a life of petty crime and his redemption as an Army officer.

"This is not about his gold medal. It is about a lost childhood and the sheer need to live life to the fullest. We all know about the legend but the film explores how he may have lost an important race but won in life," said Mehra.

"There is a lot of noise in South Asia around cricket and movies and everything else seems to get drowned. That is what makes this film more unique, un-Bollywood and more World cinema. We don't have answers but just thoughts we can share with the audience," he added.

‘I ran for India, not for money’ : Milkha Singh

Milkha ‘Flying Sikh’ Singh, a legend in his lifetime, who is in London to promote Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, spoke toThe Telegraph from the Bentley Hotel on Saturday morning. There were times when the 77-year-old turned rather emotional, but didn’t lose composure, patiently answering the questions.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was, incidentally, screened before a select group of invitees at The Mayfair’s exclusive screening room on Friday evening. “From what I could make out, it was much appreciated,” Milkha said.

The following are excerpts

Q You’ve been keeping a busy schedule in London... From the House of Lord’s to The Mayfair...

A I came for the promotional and I’ll be leaving for home on Sunday. I saw Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in its complete form, for the first time, last evening.

Was it an emotional outing?

I was in tears... Main to roh pada... Not once, but many times.

But didn’t you see the film prior to the promotions?

I did, in New Delhi, but some work remained at that point in time... I was in tears then, too, and Farhan (Akhtar), who was sitting next to me, had to lend his hanky!

What’s your take on Farhan playing Milkha Singh on screen?

(Affectionately) Farhan ne kamaal kar diya... He’s a duplicate copy and has turned in such a powerful and realistic performance. It’s almost like I’m there in person on the screen.

So, a 10 on 10 for Farhan?

Bilkul.

Your family is also in London. What did they make of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?

They enjoyed it. Obviously, even they got emotional.

How much of the film is fact and how much of it is fiction?

I’d say almost 90 per cent is my true life story.

That’s a massive percentage...

It is, yes.

What has been most touching about the entire exercise?

That a film on my life has been made during my lifetime... It’s an honour... Even films on (Mahatma) Gandhi and Shaheed Bhagat Singh were made long after they left us. Isse jyada khushi ki baat kya ho sakti hai? The present generation has little idea, or probably none at all, of what I did... Of the hardships I endured... Of the dedication I showed... This film tells my story and, hopefully, it will inspire at least a few to bring glory to India. There’s nothing bigger than doing your country proud.

India’s become a cricket-centric nation... Were you surprised when Bollywood showed interest in making a film on you?

Actually, three-four directors approached me, wanting to make a film based on my autobiography (The Race of My Life). The decision to go with Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra was taken by my son, Jeev... He made the right choice.

What made Jeev go for Rakyesh?

Jeev’s a regular watcher of Bollywood films and Rakyesh’s (2006 superhit) Rang De Basanti left a big impression... He felt Rakyesh would do justice to my life story. He sure has.

Is finishing fourth in the 400m in the 1960 Rome Olympics still a regret?

That regret will stay as long as I’m alive... I lost out (to South Africa’s Malcolm Spence) in a photo-finish... I wasn’t destined to win... India wasn’t destined to win a medal that day... Aur kya kahen? I’d won 77 of the 80 races leading up to the Olympics and I’d been expected to win.

Twenty-four years later, in Los Angeles, you must have felt for PT Usha...

I was in the stands... It seemed as if my story was being replayed. Of course, I felt for Usha... An athlete spends years trying to win a medal at the Olympics. To come so close and, then, fail… That kills.

What separates a champion from just another athlete?

Hard work and more hard work. In my pursuit of excellence, I’d vomit blood... Blood came out with urine as well, but I never lost focus. There was no money in those days, so one was driven only by the urge to do the country proud. I ran for India, not for money.

Why is it that you remain the sole Indian male to win an athletics gold in the Commonwealth Games?

Because we don’t plan... Don’t have a vision, like the Chinese, for example.

[Three years ago, Krishna Poonia brought India’s lone gold — in discus — in the women’s category.]

As an iconic sportsman, what disappoints you the most?

There are quite a few things... Doping pains me and I’m sorry to say that coaches and doctors put the athletes on the wrong track right from the schools level... That’s the tragedy. The bigger tragedy is that they go unpunished. They have no fear. Eradicate doping and start at the schools level.

Match-fixing is also cheating...

More than the individuals, it disgraces the country... Look at the bad name India got during the recent fixing scandal involving cricketers... The injection of more money appears to have made the players more greedy and more corrupt. Shameful.

Are you anti-cricket?

Not anti-cricket, but that one sport has caused a decline in the standard of the other disciplines... I blame the media too. Cricket is shown 24x7 right through the year, why not other sport?

You became a cult figure in an era when there was no TV... How did you handle stardom?

(Laughs) I knew what my priorities were... Kept my feet on the ground... Woh bahut zaroori hota hai. I wanted to do India proud, wanted to be recognised as an achiever.

After Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is released, you could become a bigger cult figure...

If that does happen, I’ll have to thank Rakeysh, Prasoon Joshi (the scriptwriter) and Farhan... In fact, they’ve already given me a fresh lease of life... Main jaise doobara paida ho gaya hoon!

Who inspired you?

Jesse Owens (winner of four gold medals in the 1936 Berlin Olympics)... If he could overcome such heavy odds, why couldn’t I? That kept driving me.

Did you meet Owens, who’d infuriated Adolf Hitler?

During the 1972 Olympics, in Munich. He’d heard about me and said as much. We had a casual conversation.

Among the present-day athletes, who stands out?

Usain Bolt... He’s so sincere and I doubt if any other athlete puts in the same amount of work. He’s a shining example.

The last one... You lost your parents (Sampuran Singh and Chawli Bai) in the post-Partition massacres. Watching them on screen must have been tough...



Main roh pada... Look, you can’t change history, no matter how painful... You endure the pain

Milkha Singh jets off to London!

Legendary athlete Milkha Singh will be leaving for London today for the premiere of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', the film which is based on his sprinting career. He will be accompanied byFarhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor, as well as director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

Talking exclusively to TOI, Milkha said, "There's a special screening of the film in London. Farhan insisted that I join them. He said I have many fans there who want to see me in person. So I decided to join them."

Meanwhile, Milkha has given his wholesome approval to the film. "I saw the film in Delhi. I have no objections to any portions in it. I think it's a film that will inspire many youngsters," Milkha said, rather confidently.

But did he have any reservations on seeing Farhan, who plays Milkha's on screen persona, kissing Australian actress Rebecca Breeds? "No. It's okay. Times have changed. The film has to deal with today's audience. Moreover which youngster does not kiss at some point or the other in his youth?" he laughingly added.