Farhan Akhtar shares 'Zinda' crowd moment from live concert: 'Chills every time'
Synopsis
More than a decade after its release, 'Zinda' from 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' is still making arenas roar — and Farhan Akhtar's latest concert video proves it. The clip of thousands singing the anthem back at him has gone viral, underscoring how the film's music has outlived the box office to become a live-show institution.
Key Takeaways
Farhan Akhtar shared a monochrome Instagram video on 3 November 2026 of fans singing 'Zinda' at his live concert.
The song is originally sung by Siddharth Mahadevan and composed by Shankar Ehsaan Loy . 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' ( 2013 ), directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra , was based on the life of sprinter Milkha Singh , who sold the film rights for ₹1 .
Akhtar's latest film is '120 Bahadur' , in which he plays Major Shaitan Singh depicting the Battle of Rezang La of 18 November 1962 .
Akhtar made his directorial debut with 'Dil Chahta Hai' in 2001 , now considered a cult classic.
Actor-filmmaker-singer Farhan Akhtar on 3 November 2026 shared a striking monochrome video from his ongoing live concert, capturing the electrifying instant when the audience collectively sang the hook line of 'Zinda' — the anthem from his 2013 biographical sports drama 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. Akhtar described the moment as 'pure magic', saying the energy sent chills down his spine every single time.
The Concert Moment
Akhtar posted the clip on Instagram, with himself visible on stage in black and white, occasionally joining the crowd mid-chorus as thousands of voices filled the arena. 'The moment a song leaves the stage and becomes a collective pulse across the entire arena, it's pure magic. Chills down the spine, every single time. An unforgettable crowd. #FarhanLive,' he wrote in the caption.
The emotionally charged clip drew widespread attention, underlining how 'Zinda' — originally sung by Siddharth Mahadevan and composed by the celebrated trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy — has transcended its film origins to become a stadium singalong more than a decade after its release.
About 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' and the Song's Legacy
'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, chronicled the life of legendary Indian sprinter Milkha Singh — a Commonwealth Games champion and two-time Asian Games 400m champion. The film stars Akhtar in the lead role alongside Art Malik, Divya Dutta, Pavan Malhotra, Yograj Singh, Prakash Raj, and Meesha Shafi, with Sonam Kapoor in a special appearance.
The film was inspired by Milkha Singh's autobiography 'The Race of My Life'. Notably, Singh sold the film rights for a symbolic ₹1, with a clause directing a share of profits to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust.
Farhan Akhtar: The Multi-Hyphenate Career
Akhtar made his directorial debut with 'Dil Chahta Hai' in 2001, a coming-of-age film widely regarded as a cult classic. He went on to direct the war film 'Lakshya' and the action thrillers 'Don' and 'Don 2'. As a performer, he has consistently blurred the lines between acting, directing, and live music.
His most recent acting outing is '120 Bahadur', directed by Razneesh 'Razy' Ghai, where he plays Major Shaitan Singh alongside Raashii Khanna. The film depicts the Battle of Rezang La on 18 November 1962, when 120 soldiers of the Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment — largely composed of Ahir soldiers — held their post against a 3,000-strong Chinese Army contingent, reportedly inflicting over 1,300 casualties.
Why This Moment Resonates
The viral clip is a reminder of how rare it is for Bollywood songs rooted in biographical drama to retain arena-scale emotional pull years after release. 'Zinda' has become one of a handful of Hindi film songs that audiences consistently reclaim at live concerts — a cultural afterlife that its filmmakers could not have engineered. As Akhtar's live music career continues to grow alongside his acting and direction work, moments like this signal a deepening connection with audiences that extends well beyond the screen.
Point of View
Yet this one has. Part of the credit belongs to Shankar Ehsaan Loy's composition, but part of it is Akhtar's own unusual positioning as a credible live performer in an industry where actor-musicians are often novelty acts. The video also doubles as organic promotion for his expanding concert brand — one of the few genuine live-music ventures by a Bollywood figure with recurring commercial traction.
NationPress
3 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What video did Farhan Akhtar share from his concert?
Farhan Akhtar shared a monochrome Instagram video showing the audience at his live concert singing the hook line of 'Zinda' from the 2013 film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. He captioned it by describing the moment as 'pure magic' and said it gave him 'chills down the spine, every single time.'
Who originally sang 'Zinda' from 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'?
'Zinda' was originally sung by Siddharth Mahadevan, with music composed by the trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy. The song featured in the 2013 biographical sports drama directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
What is 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' about?
'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' (2013) is a biographical sports drama based on the life of Indian sprinter Milkha Singh, a Commonwealth Games champion and two-time Asian Games 400m champion. Milkha Singh sold the film rights for ₹1, with a share of profits directed to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust.
What is Farhan Akhtar's latest film?
Farhan Akhtar's latest acting project is '120 Bahadur', directed by Razneesh 'Razy' Ghai, in which he plays Major Shaitan Singh. The film depicts the Battle of Rezang La on 18 November 1962, where 120 soldiers of the Charlie Company, 13 Kumaon Regiment, fought against a 3,000-strong Chinese Army contingent.
How did Farhan Akhtar start his career in films?
Farhan Akhtar made his directorial debut with 'Dil Chahta Hai' in 2001, a coming-of-age film that has since become a cult classic. He subsequently directed 'Lakshya', 'Don', and 'Don 2', before establishing himself as an actor and live performer as well.
