Rakeysh Mehra to make biopic on Milkha Singh

London, Mar. 21 (ANI): Bollywood director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has revealed plans to make a biographical film on the life of Indian ace athlete Milkha Singh.

“There is so much darkness in today's society. The youngsters today are looking for too much and, here in our backyard, we have something. There are some examples, which were burning once, but for me, burning even brighter today,” Mehra said.

“His story has more relevance in today's time then it had when he was winning all medals and breaking all world records,” he added.

Nicknamed the Flying Sikh, Milkha Singh is the only Indian athlete till date who has broken an Olympic record.

Milkha Singh won Gold medals in both 200m and 400m events at the Tokyo Asian Games in 1958. At the Cardiff Commonwealth Games held the same year, he improved his 400m timing to 46.16 seconds, and grabbed a Gold medal again.

Titled 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' (Run Milkha, Run) the film would portray 75 years of Singh's life right from his childhood in Pakistan and the Partition, apart from his achievements in sports.

Singh had lost his parents during the partition of the Indian subcontinent.

Ad filmmaker and lyricist Prasoon Joshi would team up with Mehra in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', which is the first biographical film to be made on a sports icon.

"It is not a eulogy, it is not an attempt to make a documentary on him; this is an attempt to really see what goes behind the  making of a great person," said Joshi.

The duo had worked earlier in Bollywood film 'Dilli 6' and the National Award-winning movie 'Rang De Basanti'.

Mikha Singh said the film would inspire youngsters to become great players.

"I would be happy when India will produces more Milkha Singhs from its soil…I want that parents should watch the movie and inspire their kids to become more great players and make their country proud," said Singh. (ANI)