Throwback To Farhan Akhtar's 2013 Interview When He Said 'Whatever I’ve Managed To Do In This Movie Is Motivated And Inspired By This Man Called Milkha Singh'
As Milkha Singh breathed his last on June 18th 2021, we take you back to 2013 when his biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was released. We revisit Farhan Akhtar's interview from back then. Read excerpts.
On June 18th 2021, India lost her gem, Milkha Singh. The legendary sprinter who won us many gold medals at the Asian and Commonwealth games died due to COVID-19. In 2013 a biopic, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, based on his life was made and Farhan Akhtar played the Flying Sikh. We go back in time and revisit Farhan's 2013 interview where he opened up about the real-life inspiration.
What was your main area of interest while doing Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?
I was most amazed by his spirit. And that spirit is latent within us. It takes a story like Milkhaji's to awaken that spirit within all of us. What I learned the most is the power of forgiveness. Milkhaji taught me that you couldn't move on in life with the baggage of negativity and ill will. You can't be the Flying Sikh with that entire burden. So, in a way the running is a metaphor for an unburdened spirit of forgiveness.
What do you feel about the plight of sportspersons who are not cricketers in our country?
I can only say there's a lot that needs to be done for them. The opportunities that sportspersons get outside the world of cricket are very few. The sports events like the Olympics happen once in several years. They spend all their time training for that moment, sacrificing all their personal time for that moment. I met Krishna Poonia, who told me she had to stay away from her child for two years while preparing for an event. They should get back a lot more for what they sacrifice. But they don't.
How much of a difference do you think "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" would make to the mindset of sportspersons?
Athletes are bound to be inspired by the movie. But I hope sports federations should start getting a lot more sensitive towards athletes and nurture them correctly. That can only happen if they don't have to stress about their livelihood. Hopefully, the film will make people think.
Your performance ranks as a benchmark for bio-pics
Whatever I’ve managed to do in this movie is motivated and inspired by this man called Milkha Singh. He has given me a lot of strength. He witnessed events such as the violence after Partition that I had no clue about. His childhood is far removed from mine. I just drew upon a sense of personal loss to deal with his trauma. The most difficult scenes for me were when Milkha goes back to his home in Pakistan to confront his past. Those scenes demanded every ounce of memory of loss within me. I still didn’t come anywhere close to what Milkhaji must have felt. But I tried
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