The simple-hearted legendary athlete cannot hide his glee at the turn of events. Singh said, “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing ever since the film released. I am getting hundreds of calls from all over the world. I am on the phone all day receiving congratulatory calls. Badhaai pe badhaai aaye jaa rahi hai.”
The most surprising call that Singh got was from former American sprinter Carl Lewis. “Yes, Carl Lewis called me. He saw my film and was very moved. He couldn’t follow the Hindi dialogues, but he saw it with an Indian friend who explained the dialogues to him. He is a world-acknowledged runner and has won gold medals in the Olympics. He is one of the greatest sprinters in the world. He wants to send me a gift of appreciation. I told him there was no need for that. I am just too overwhelmed. There are long queues at cinema halls to see my film.”
The jubilant runner said, “The entire credit for the film’s success must go to director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, writer Prasoon Joshi, editor PS Bharathi and to Farhan Akhtar for portraying me with such conviction, and to Divya Dutta for bringing my sister’s role alive. And to Viacom 18 for co-producing the film with Rakeysh. If it wasn’t for the entire team and their belief in the project, my story would not have been told so persuasively. So many athletes have come and gone unsung. I think I am very fortunate.”
The fact that Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is serving an inspirational purpose among the youth is what is most heartening to Singh. “The message that if you try you, can be another Milkha is very strongly put across in the film. I wanted youngsters to be so moved by my story of struggle that they are inspired into doing something worthwhile. And that’s exactly what’s happening. All those who have seen the film have come out weeping. It’s not just sportsmen who are connecting with my story, even businessmen and professionals are… they are getting the message that the only route to success is hard work and willpower. When I saw the film for the first time, I couldn’t believe they had done such a fine job of putting my life into a three-hour film.”
Milkha Singh is bowled over by Farhan Akhtar’s performance. “He is exactly how I wanted to see myself on screen. Full credit to Rakeysh for seeing me in Farhan. Many actors, including Akshay Kumar, wanted to play Milkha Singh. But the boy (Farhan) has done kamaal. He has replicated me on screen. He even resembles me. The body language and the discipline Farhan adopted to play me… yeh koi maamooli baat nahin hai (it was not easy).”
He admits that the entire story of his life is not represented in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. “If they had taken all the incidents from my life the film would have been at least 10 hours long,” he said.
He credits his son ace-golfer Jeev Milkha Singh for encouraging the project. “I have no idea about movies and the film industry. I haven’t seen any film since 1960. My son, who watches a film every day, was impressed by Rakeysh Mehra’s Rang De Basanti. Jeev told me if I have to let my story go on film it must be done by Rakeysh. Before him, three to four directors had approached me. They even offered me substantial amounts of money. But I opted to let Rakeysh tell my story.”
Singh took just a token fee of Re 1 for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. However, it was decided that if the film makes profits, some of it would go into the Milkha Singh Charity Trust.
“We distribute medicines to the poor, encourage promising athletes and help retired sportsmen. In our country, sportspersons are given no financial succour. I have seen so much poverty and hardship. Believe me, the film shows only 20 percent of my suffering. They couldn’t show all my pain. Prasoon has suggested another film. I’ve told him to wait and see how far Bhaag Milkha Bhaag goes.”
Milkha Singh now has one unfulfilled wish. “The gold medal that slipped out of my hand in the Rome Olympics must come to us. Before I leave this world I want one Indian youngster to go get that medal for our country. That’s the my last wish.”
