Biopics bridge past, present: Farhan Akhtar

Film-maker feels it’s important for countries to know about their heroes.

MUMBAI:

Actor-film-maker Farhan Akhtar, who features as former athlete Milkha Singh in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, believes biopics have the potential of bringing the present generation closer to history and to stories of those who have made the country proud in the past.

“It’s great that films are being made about the people who made their mark in their [respective] fields. We are a country which is constantly searching for heroes, looking out for someone to look up to,” Farhan said at the promotion of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.

“At times, it’s nice if we can look back into history and see the kind of sacrifices that people have made,” he added. “And how they have put national pride before themselves, submitting physically and emotionally to a task that was way bigger than a lot of people can imagine is achievable. That is very inspirational.”

Several biopics are awaited across Indian cinema — there’s the Tamil-English bilingual on math genius Srinivasa Ramanujan, then another on legendary actor Guru Dutt, one on the legendary Kishore Kumar, and also on Olympic bronze medalist, Mary Kom.

Year 2012 saw Paan Singh Tomar, which was about the former national steeplechase champion-turned-bandit. It received rave reviews and critical acclaim.

Farhan says it is vital that people know about such heroes and the sacrifices they have made. “Just the fact that we are focusing on the people who have made us proud [is great]. I hope many more such films of the biopic nature will be made about people from different fields,” Farhan said.

Releasing on July 12, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag also features Sonam Kapoor.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.

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