Sportspersons in National Anthem video for 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'

Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) The makers of "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" plan to shoot a video featuring prominent sports personalities against the backdrop of the National Anthem.

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the movie is a biopic on 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh. Actor Farhan Akhtar is playing the title role in the film, which will hit theaters July 12.

As part of a unique promotional strategy, the makers have come up with the idea of the video song.

A source close to the production house reveals that a video, featuring prominent personalities from Indian sports, in which, they will all be seen singing the National Anthem, is being shot.

"Since the biopic tells the real life story of a hero (Milkha Singh) who fights against the odds, the makers believe it is something that needs to be saluted. That's how the idea of a National Anthem video featuring him and 12 contemporary sportspersons came about," says an insider close to the production house.

Milkha Singh's son, golfer Jeev Milkha Singh is already on board.

The others being approached for it include Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, shuttler Saina Nehwal, shooter Abhinav Bindra, footballer Baichung Bhutia, boxer Vijender Singh, wrestler Sushil Kumar, tennis player Sania Mirza, weight lifter Geeta Rani, retired hockey player Dhanraj Pillay, chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand and Formula 1 racer Narain Karthikeyan.

This video will reportedly be shot by Mehra.

However, it is yet to be decided whether the players will sing the National Anthem, or if playback singers will be roped in.