Divya Dutta, in one of her recent interviews, shared that she had initially rejected Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s 2013 sports biopic, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag received positive reviews from the critics and the audience and was a commercial success at the box office. Based on the real story of Indian athlete ‘The Flying Sikh’ Milkha Singh, the film revolved around how he overcame several obstacles to become a world champion.
Divya Dutta, who played a pivotal role in this movie, recently revealed that she had initially turned down this film as she had a huge crush on Farhan Akhtar and didn’t want to essay the part of his sister in the film.
While speaking in an episode of Pinkvilla’s Baatein Ankahee Season 2, Divya recalled, “I wasn’t doing it! Because I had a huge crush on Farhan that time. I said ‘main kyu behen banu uski? (Why should I play his sister?)”. But then director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra told her, ‘Tum actor ho na, you’re a professional’ and went on to narrate the story to her.
ALSO READ: Kriti Sanon Gets Candid About The Biggest Challenge She Faced Early On In Her Career
Divya further shared that the filmmaker asked her to come to the film’s set one day prior she was supposed to begin filming her part. When she reached the set, Rakeysh informed her that he wants her to meet someone. He tapped on someone’s shoulder, and when the person turned, the actress was shocked to see that it was Farhan Akhtar.
“He turned. I just kept looking at him and said, ‘This is not Farhan at all! This is Milkha,’” the Veer Zaara actress recalled.
During the conversation, Divya also shared an anecdote about the scene in which Farhan’s Milkha Singh brings gold earrings for her. The actress revealed that this scene didn’t have an end in the written script and Mehra asked her to come up with something.
Divya said that while performing the scene, she remembered that Milkha’s father had saluted him in a previous scene and so, she saluted Milkha towards the end. Recalling how the entire unit got emotional and came together for a group hug after she came up with this improvisation, she added, “I was shocked how did I do this? How did I remember this? We came together for a group hug, and cried. Some films and moments become so special without realizing how.”
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag also featured Sonam Kapoor in a cameo.
