Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra remembers Milkha Singh: Your footsteps continue to inspire generations
Mumbai, July 14
As his directorial "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" clocked 13 years in Hindi cinema, acclaimed filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra remembered the late Indian track and field sprinter Milkha Singh.
Omprakash Mehra shared a string of images featuring him, Milkha Singh, actors Farhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor.
"13 years. Thank you, Milkha ji, for trusting us with your story. Your footsteps continue to inspire generations, and they always will. Forever running. Forever remembered," he wrote as the caption.
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a 2013 Indian Hindi-language biographical sports drama film. Based on the life of Milkha Singh, an Indian athlete and Olympian who was a champion of the Commonwealth Games and two-time 400m champion of the Asian Games.
The film performed very well at the box office, eventually being declared a "super hit" domestically as well as a hit overseas. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is the sixth highest-grossing 2013 Bollywood film worldwide
The film was inspired by The Race of My Life, an autobiography co-written by Milkha Singh and his daughter, Sonia. He sold the film rights for one rupee and inserted a clause stating that a share of the profits would be given to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust, which was founded in 2003 to assist poor and needy sportspeople.
Milkha Singh was admitted to the intensive care unit in May 2021 with pneumonia caused by Covid. His condition was, for a while, described as stable, but he died in June 2021.
Talking about the filmmaker, Omprakash Mehra is best known for writing and directing the drama Rang De Basanti, which was released in 2006, Aks and the drama Delhi-6.
His most recent work was Toofan, a sports drama film. An adaptation of the 2017 Bengali film Chaamp, it stars Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak, Hussain Dalal, Mohan Agashe, Darshan Kumar, and Vijay Raaz.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I watched Bhaag Milkha Bhaag years ago and it still gives me chills. Milkha Singh's journey from a refugee to an Olympic legend is something everyone should learn about. Mehra's direction was top-notch, and Farhan Akhtar's performance was incredible. Glad to see this milestone remembered.
The fact that Milkha Singh sold his film rights for just one rupee and ensured profits go to his charity for athletes shows his selfless nature. He was a true hero both on and off the track. This film made me respect him even more. Proud moment for Indian cinema too.
I didn't know about the charity clause in the film contract – that's genuinely inspiring. Milkha Singh's humility and dedication to helping others is something we don't see often. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a classic that deserves all the appreciation. 13 years already? Time flies.
While the film is brilliant, I think it glossed over some darker chapters of Milkha Singh's early life a bit too much. The partition trauma and his struggles with anger could have been explored more deeply. Still, it's a moving tribute, and Mehra's respect for the subject is clear. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag remains a must-watch.
Every time I feel like giving up, I think of Milkha Singh running barefoot in his youth and pushing through every obstacle. This movie is pure motivation. Glad Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra kept his legacy alive. Thank you, Milkha ji, for being a beacon of hope for us all. 🏃♂
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