Bhaag Milkha Bhaag - the next from Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra

"BMB will be depicting Milkha Singh's life from age of 13 to 28" - Rakeysh Mehra

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who planning his next film on the life of long-distance runner Milkha Singh talks to Subhash K Jha about the film titled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

What made you decide on Milkha Singh?
I was keen on doing a historical love story Mirza Sahiban. But the idea on Milkha Singh worked out better. Prasoon Joshi is writing it. I've been in Gulmarg shooting for a film I'm producing. Right from my childhood we've grown up with Milkha Singh's name. One has heard jokes about him, how he was known as the Flying Sikh, used to run barefoot, how he came from Pakistan. These were anecdotes I grew up with. I've been a sportsman myself during my student days. I used to go practising in the National Stadium in Delhi for swimming every day. Milkha Singh used to practice there every day. Then I came to know more details about his life. How at the age of 13 he watched his whole family being massacred in undivided India. He didn't know where to go. He somehow made his way to Delhi on refugee trains, etc.

Would all that be part of your film?
That's what attracted me to the subject and not so much his athletics. Milkha Singh's story was inspiring. I'll call the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, BMB for short. The theme is is, zindagi se bhago nahin zindagi ke saath bhago. It's very relevant to today's life. This guy had nothing and still he made spectacular success of his life. His life has such a resonance.

Have you met Milkha Singh?
I've met him numerous times in Chandigarh, talked to him for hours. During our conversation I opened doors for him that even he had closed. We got to know things even his family didn't know. He's 82 now. But I'd be depicting his life from age 13 to the 1960s, to the age of 28. Milkha's family has been very co-operative. It was Milkha Singh's son the champ- golfer Jeev who co-ordinated the whole system.

Whom are you casting?
No idea. We're starting the film at the end of this year or early next year. Any actor would kill for the part of Milkha Singh. This kind of a subject comes to an actor once during his lifetime. Not too many people are such role models. Even my Rang De Basanti was a bio-pic in a very strange way. But that was set in contemporary India. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (BMB) goes back in time. I might cast a big star or a newcomer. Let's see.
More HERE

Initially there was considerable buzz that Akshay Kumar would be cast as the flying sikh, but ROM denies that. AR Rahman is set to give music to the film.

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag - the next from Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra

"BMB will be depicting Milkha Singh's life from age of 13 to 28" - Rakeysh Mehra

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra who planning his next film on the life of long-distance runner Milkha Singh talks to Subhash K Jha about the film titled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

What made you decide on Milkha Singh?
I was keen on doing a historical love story Mirza Sahiban. But the idea on Milkha Singh worked out better. Prasoon Joshi is writing it. I've been in Gulmarg shooting for a film I'm producing. Right from my childhood we've grown up with Milkha Singh's name. One has heard jokes about him, how he was known as the Flying Sikh, used to run barefoot, how he came from Pakistan. These were anecdotes I grew up with. I've been a sportsman myself during my student days. I used to go practising in the National Stadium in Delhi for swimming every day. Milkha Singh used to practice there every day. Then I came to know more details about his life. How at the age of 13 he watched his whole family being massacred in undivided India. He didn't know where to go. He somehow made his way to Delhi on refugee trains, etc.

Would all that be part of your film?
That's what attracted me to the subject and not so much his athletics. Milkha Singh's story was inspiring. I'll call the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, BMB for short. The theme is is, zindagi se bhago nahin zindagi ke saath bhago. It's very relevant to today's life. This guy had nothing and still he made spectacular success of his life. His life has such a resonance.

Have you met Milkha Singh?
I've met him numerous times in Chandigarh, talked to him for hours. During our conversation I opened doors for him that even he had closed. We got to know things even his family didn't know. He's 82 now. But I'd be depicting his life from age 13 to the 1960s, to the age of 28. Milkha's family has been very co-operative. It was Milkha Singh's son the champ- golfer Jeev who co-ordinated the whole system.

Whom are you casting?
No idea. We're starting the film at the end of this year or early next year. Any actor would kill for the part of Milkha Singh. This kind of a subject comes to an actor once during his lifetime. Not too many people are such role models. Even my Rang De Basanti was a bio-pic in a very strange way. But that was set in contemporary India. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (BMB) goes back in time. I might cast a big star or a newcomer. Let's see.
More HERE

Initially there was considerable buzz that Akshay Kumar would be cast as the flying sikh, but ROM denies that. AR Rahman is set to give music to the film.

Rakeysh Mehra's new film, 'Bhag Milkha Bhag'

It will be based on the life of sports icon Milkha Singh

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has announced his most prestigious project, Bhag Milkha Bhag, a film inspired by the life and times of Indian sports icon, Milkha Singh.

Prasoon Joshi is behind the story, screenplay and dialogues for Bhag Milkha Bhag. Researched and written over the last two years, Bhag Milkha Bhag will go on floors some time next year.

Bhag Milkha Bhag will be the first ever biographical film to be made on a sports icon in India.

Padma Shri Milkha Singh is an Indian athlete, who created the 1958 Asian Games Record in 400 metres, won the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, set the world record in 400 metres in 1960 and participated in the 400 metres final in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Popularly known as The Flying Sikh, he is one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced. Milkha Singh lost his parents in the Partition of India and after a horrific childhood, he went against all odds to become an international sports icon and to be revered by sportsmen and by sports critics alike as one of the greatest athletes ever.

Says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, "When I first heard the story of Milkha Singh, it was so inspiring that I wanted not only the youth in our country, but all over the world, and from various walks of life, to know this story of trials, tribulations and triumph."
Says Prasoon Joshi, "Milkha Singhji is a legend and the story of his achievements is well known. In addition, over the last year and post several in depth meetings, one has been fortunate to cull out and visit certain rooms of memory and thought that he had probably locked. It was difficult but rewarding for this is intense and very inspiring."

LINK

Rakeysh Mehra's new film, 'Bhag Milkha Bhag'

It will be based on the life of sports icon Milkha Singh

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has announced his most prestigious project, Bhag Milkha Bhag, a film inspired by the life and times of Indian sports icon, Milkha Singh.

Prasoon Joshi is behind the story, screenplay and dialogues for Bhag Milkha Bhag. Researched and written over the last two years, Bhag Milkha Bhag will go on floors some time next year.

Bhag Milkha Bhag will be the first ever biographical film to be made on a sports icon in India.

Padma Shri Milkha Singh is an Indian athlete, who created the 1958 Asian Games Record in 400 metres, won the 1958 Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, set the world record in 400 metres in 1960 and participated in the 400 metres final in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
Popularly known as The Flying Sikh, he is one of the greatest athletes India has ever produced. Milkha Singh lost his parents in the Partition of India and after a horrific childhood, he went against all odds to become an international sports icon and to be revered by sportsmen and by sports critics alike as one of the greatest athletes ever.

Says Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, "When I first heard the story of Milkha Singh, it was so inspiring that I wanted not only the youth in our country, but all over the world, and from various walks of life, to know this story of trials, tribulations and triumph."
Says Prasoon Joshi, "Milkha Singhji is a legend and the story of his achievements is well known. In addition, over the last year and post several in depth meetings, one has been fortunate to cull out and visit certain rooms of memory and thought that he had probably locked. It was difficult but rewarding for this is intense and very inspiring."

LINK