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'Farhan Akhtar to play Milkha Singh'
VICKEY LALWANI , Mumbai Mirror | Aug 14, 2011, 12.00AM ISTFarhan Akhtar has never made or acted in films outside his home production banner Excel Entertainment. However, Mumbai Mirror on August 9 told you how the actor has been giving scripts from outside banners a serious thought. Looks like the actor hasn't taken much time to decide.
After the success of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Farhan will now play Milkha Singh in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's biopic on the ace Indian athlete titled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The film is all set to go on floors nest year.
The Rang De Basanti director, Mehra, first thought of making a film on the life of Milkha Singh in 2009, soon after he finished his Abhishek Bachchan-Sonam Kapoor starrer Dilli 6. Last year, while attending an international awards event in Toronto, he started toying with the idea of making the film in more than one language.
Speaking to a section of the media, Mehra had then said, "Perhaps the spoken language will be one, and that would be what Milka speaks in real life, Punjabi, Hindi or English. But I'd like to make the film for a global audience."
Reports of Akshay Kumar being finalised for the role of The Flying Sikh made it to the headlines after the athlete himself expresses his wishes about the same.
Milkha had said, "I strongly feel that my role should be played by Akshay Kumar. Being a Punjab da puttar, he has the right physique and also acts well."
While Akshay was surely in the running for the role, speculations about Abhishek Bachchan filling in Milkha Singh's sneakers also made its way to the press. Looks like Farhan has beaten both the other actors in the race.
A source said, "Farhan is an extremely fit guy. He likes to do roles that challenge his acting skills to the maximum. To get into the character of Milkha Singh is not going to be easy either."
The Rang De Basanti director Mehra has signed on the lyricist of the same film, Prasoon Joshi to pen the story for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The story will trace the life of Milkha Singh from his childhood days spent in Pakistan.
While Farhan did not respond to our calls and text messages, Mehra neither confirmed nor denied the story. He simply said, "I am still finalising the casting of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
After the success of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Farhan will now play Milkha Singh in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's biopic on the ace Indian athlete titled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The film is all set to go on floors nest year.
The Rang De Basanti director, Mehra, first thought of making a film on the life of Milkha Singh in 2009, soon after he finished his Abhishek Bachchan-Sonam Kapoor starrer Dilli 6. Last year, while attending an international awards event in Toronto, he started toying with the idea of making the film in more than one language.
Speaking to a section of the media, Mehra had then said, "Perhaps the spoken language will be one, and that would be what Milka speaks in real life, Punjabi, Hindi or English. But I'd like to make the film for a global audience."
Reports of Akshay Kumar being finalised for the role of The Flying Sikh made it to the headlines after the athlete himself expresses his wishes about the same.
Milkha had said, "I strongly feel that my role should be played by Akshay Kumar. Being a Punjab da puttar, he has the right physique and also acts well."
While Akshay was surely in the running for the role, speculations about Abhishek Bachchan filling in Milkha Singh's sneakers also made its way to the press. Looks like Farhan has beaten both the other actors in the race.
A source said, "Farhan is an extremely fit guy. He likes to do roles that challenge his acting skills to the maximum. To get into the character of Milkha Singh is not going to be easy either."
The Rang De Basanti director Mehra has signed on the lyricist of the same film, Prasoon Joshi to pen the story for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The story will trace the life of Milkha Singh from his childhood days spent in Pakistan.
While Farhan did not respond to our calls and text messages, Mehra neither confirmed nor denied the story. He simply said, "I am still finalising the casting of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Anupamaa
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