Bhaag Milkha Bhaag at 13: Rakeysh Mehra honours Milkha Singh's legacy
Synopsis
Thirteen years after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag released, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's tribute to Milkha Singh — who sold his story rights for one rupee to fund a charitable trust for poor athletes — is a reminder that the film's emotional core was always bigger than its box-office numbers.
Key Takeaways
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra paid tribute to Milkha Singh on the 13th anniversary of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag on 14 July .
Milkha Singh sold the film rights for a symbolic one rupee , with profits directed to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust (est.
The film was the sixth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2013 worldwide and was declared a domestic ‘super hit’.
Milkha Singh passed away in June 2021 after contracting Covid-19-linked pneumonia.
The film starred Farhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor and was based on the autobiography The Race of My Life .
Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra marked the 13th anniversary of his acclaimed biographical sports drama Bhaag Milkha Bhaag on 14 July with a heartfelt tribute to the late sprinting legend Milkha Singh, sharing a series of photographs featuring himself alongside Milkha Singh and actors Farhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor.
Mehra's Tribute
In his caption accompanying the photographs, Mehra wrote: “13 years. Thank you, Milkha ji, for trusting us with your story. Your footsteps continue to inspire generations, and they always will. Forever running. Forever remembered.” The post underscored the enduring emotional bond between the filmmaker and the story he brought to the screen over a decade ago.
About the Film
Released in 2013, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag chronicled the life of Milkha Singh — a celebrated Indian athlete and Olympian who claimed gold at the Commonwealth Games and was a two-time 400m champion at the Asian Games. The film was adapted from The Race of My Life, an autobiography co-written by Milkha Singh and his daughter Sonia. Notably, Milkha Singh sold the film rights for a symbolic one rupee, with a clause ensuring a share of profits would be directed to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust, founded in 2003 to support underprivileged sportspeople.
Box Office Legacy
The film went on to become a commercial success, declared a ‘super hit’ domestically and a hit in overseas markets. It ranked as the sixth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2013 worldwide — a remarkable achievement for a biographical sports drama at the time.
Milkha Singh's Passing
Milkha Singh was admitted to an intensive care unit in May 2021 after contracting pneumonia linked to Covid-19. Though his condition was described as stable for a period, he passed away in June 2021, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate in Indian athletics and popular culture alike.
Mehra's Broader Filmography
Mehra is widely recognised for writing and directing Rang De Basanti (2006), along with Aks and Delhi-6. His most recent directorial work, Toofan — a boxing drama adapted from the 2017 Bengali film Chaamp — starred Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, and Supriya Pathak, among others. The 13-year milestone of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a reminder that stories rooted in authentic sporting sacrifice rarely fade from public memory.
Point of View
It was a value statement. Mehra's annual tribute ritual also points to something the Hindi film industry rarely acknowledges — that the subject of a biopic, not just the filmmaker, shapes its legacy. With Indian sports biopics now a crowded genre, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag remains the benchmark precisely because the man behind it refused to commercialise his own story.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bhaag Milkha Bhaag trending 13 years after its release?
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra shared a tribute on 14 July marking the film's 13th anniversary, posting photographs with Milkha Singh, Farhan Akhtar, and Sonam Kapoor. The post reignited public interest in the 2013 biographical sports drama.
Why did Milkha Singh sell his story rights for one rupee?
Milkha Singh sold the film rights to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag for a symbolic one rupee and included a clause ensuring a share of the film's profits would go to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust, which he founded in 2003 to support poor and needy sportspeople.
How did Bhaag Milkha Bhaag perform at the box office?
The film was declared a ‘super hit’ in India and a hit in overseas markets, ranking as the sixth highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2013 worldwide — a strong result for a biographical sports drama.
When did Milkha Singh pass away?
Milkha Singh passed away in June 2021 after being admitted to an ICU in May 2021 with Covid-19-linked pneumonia. His condition had been described as stable before his death.
What other films has Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directed?
Mehra is best known for Rang De Basanti (2006), Aks, and Delhi-6. His most recent film is Toofan, a boxing drama starring Farhan Akhtar, Mrunal Thakur, and Paresh Rawal, adapted from the 2017 Bengali film Chaamp.
