Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag defining film for me

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a life
defining film for him.

Starring Farhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor,
the biopic hits the screens tomorrow. "It's
a life defining film for me and my life,"
Mehra told reporters here.

Describing the childhood of Milkha in the
film as its important part, Mehra said, "It
was a lost childhood due to Partition of the
country. The characters in this film are true
to life and reality."

Mehra said the film also sheds light on not
so great moments in Milkha's life.

"In his early days Milkha even went to Tihar
jail, but he wanted to earn something by
hardwork and respect and thus decided to
join the Army," Mehra said adding that
"after three attempts Milkha succeeded to
get into the Army."

"Army recognised Milkha and provided him
a platform from where he rose. I dedicate
this film to Army," he said adding that the
film will be screened in 125 Army centres.

Mehra said that he could not sleep for two
to three months after meeting Milkha
because he wanted to make his biopic. "Milkha got lot of offers from
Rs 50 lakh to
Rs 1.5 crore, but he decided to give me the
story for Rs one. That one rupee of 1960's
Rome Olympic is much more than Rs ten
crore in my eyes," he said.

Mehra said that he was lucky that he was
selected by Milkha to make the film. On
being asked was he comfortable working
with Farhan, Mehra said Farhan made my
job easy. "I work with instinct...I don't
listen to my own mind... if during the making of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag I
was away from my instinct Farhan Akhtar who
himself is a director provided me a
bouncing board," Mehra said.

Writer Prasoon Joshi said that he feel that Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is an
"unique film." "This film required lot of raw material and
historical facts and there understanding.
Besides, historical understanding of time
and Milkha was also required before
penning down the story. I have read lot of
literature and it helped in understanding the saga of Partition,"
Joshi said. Joshi said
that the film has no negative impact on
Pakistan as "it shows how Partition
affected the mind of a child... its not a
political statement."