Latest news with #MilkhaSingh
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Dalip Tahil reveals Milkha Singh was 'manipulated' by PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to go to Pakistan: ‘Milkha told me Nehru changed his life'
Veteran actor Dalip Tahil , who portrayed Jawaharlal Nehru in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra 's Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, recently opened up about a memorable meeting with the legendary athlete Milkha Singh . He revealed that the conversation not only deepened his understanding of Nehru's role in Milkha's life but also helped him bring authenticity to his performance on screen. Dalip, who played a small yet impactful role in the Farhan Akhtar-starrer, shared that he had specifically asked the film's team to arrange a meeting with Milkha Singh. 'He was the only one among us who had actually met Jawaharlal Nehru,' Dalip said in an interview with Red FM, adding that hearing directly from Milkha would help him better embody the late Prime Minister's persona. 'Nehru ji manipulated me by making me Captain' During the meeting, Milkha Singh spoke candidly with the actor for nearly four hours. One of the most poignant memories he shared was how Nehru had persuaded him to travel to Lahore in 1960 to compete in the 200m event, despite Milkha's strong reluctance. 'Milkha ji told me, 'I didn't want to go back to Pakistan , but Prime Minister Pandit Nehru told me to go and manipulated me by making me the Captain of the team,'' Dalip recalled. 'Nehru ji didn't want to send a politician. He wanted someone with stature and civilian dignity to ease tensions between the two countries. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo He knew what Milkha ji had suffered during Partition, so to convince him, he gave him that honour.' Milkha Singh, who had lost both his parents and several siblings during the violence of Partition, had deep emotional scars associated with his birthplace, which became part of Pakistan. However, according to Dalip, the respect and warmth he received during the trip moved him. 'He said, 'I couldn't believe the contrast.' He was treated so well in Pakistan.' Dalip Tahil reacts to the hit-and-run case verdict: 'It is a suspended sentence and we will approach the higher court' 'I want leaves!' – Milkha's hilarious request to Nehru Dalip also shared a light-hearted anecdote from their conversation. After Milkha returned victorious from Lahore, Nehru asked him what reward he wanted. 'Milkha Singh told me he said, 'I want leaves,'' Dalip laughed. 'His wife joked, 'If he had asked for 100 acres of land, we'd be landowners by now!'' Dalip concluded by saying, 'Milkha Singh told me Nehru changed his life.' Milkha Singh, fondly known as The Flying Sikh, passed away in 2021.
Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Milkha Singh said Jawaharlal Nehru ‘manipulated' him to go to Pakistan after Partition horrors, recalls Dalip Tahil: ‘He changed my life'
Dalip Tahil played a small but impactful role as Jawaharlal Nehru in athlete Milkha Singh's biographical film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. In a recent interaction, the actor recalled meeting the legendary athlete himself and how Milkha opened up to him about the pivotal role Nehru played in his life. In a recent interaction with Red FM Podcasts, Dalip shared that he had asked Bhaag Milkha Bhaag's team to arrange a meeting with Milkha Singh, as the athlete was the only one who had actually met Jawaharlal Nehru. The actor believed that hearing about Nehru from Milkha himself would help him portray the leader more authentically on the big screen. 'Jawaharlal Nehru had a big role in Milkha Singh's life and I got to know about it after meeting the athlete himself,' Dalip shared. Dalip Tahil recalled Milkha Singh confiding in him that he didn't want to go to Pakistan after being invited to take part in the 200m event at an international athletic competition in Lahore in 1960. The athlete, who was born in what is now the Pakistan side of Punjab, had witnessed the brutalities of Partition up close — Milkha Singh's parents and siblings were killed during the Partition — and he was reluctant to return to Lahore 13 years after the traumatic event. However, Milkha told Dalip that it was former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who convinced him to take the trip in order to help ease tense relations between the two nations. Opening up about the meeting, Dalip Tahil said, 'Milkha Singh talked to me for 4 hours and we spoke a lot about Jawaharlal Nehru. He told me, 'I didn't want to go back to Pakistan but Prime Minister Pandit Nehru told me to go and he manipulated me by making me the Captain of the team.' Nehru wanted a civilian with a stature to visit Pakistan at that time to amend the bridges, he didn't want to send a politician. Nehru knew what had happened with Milkha ji during partition, so to get him to go back there, he convinced him by making him the Captain. Milkha Singh couldn't say no to Nehru.' Dalip went on to say, 'Milkha Singh told me that he was treated so well in Pakistan. He said, 'I couldn't believe the contrast.'' Dalip also shared a hilarious anecdote. He said, 'After winning the medal in Pakistan, when Milkha came back home, Nehru ji asked him 'what reward you want?' and he responded, 'I want leaves.'' Dalip recalled Milkha Singh's wife's reaction and said, 'She quipped, 'If he would have asked for 100 acres of land, we would have had so much land by now,'' Dalip recalled, adding, 'Milkha Singh told me that Jawaharlal Nehru changed his life.'
India.com
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Made for Rs 41 crore, this film was rejected by Hrithik Roshan, Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan, became a hit, earned Rs.. won 55 awards, lead actor is..
In 2013, a film hit theatres with the force of a storm — a story that didn't just touch hearts but rewrote box office history and award lists. It went on to win 55 awards, including two National Awards and a Filmfare Best Actor trophy. But what if we told you that this cinematic triumph was rejected by not one but three of Bollywood's top heroes? We're talking about Bhaag Milkha Bhaag , the sports biopic that immortalised India's 'Flying Sikh' — Milkha Singh — on the big screen. Directed by Rakesh Omprakash Mehra, the film eventually starred Farhan Akhtar in the lead, but the road to finding that perfect Milkha was full of U-turns. The rejected bids Rakesh Omprakash Mehra initially approached three leading actors: Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, and Ranveer Singh. Each passed: Hrithik Roshan, praised for intensity, was unavailable—'committed to Krrish,' Mehra recalls in his memoir The Stranger in the Mirror. Aamir Khan, conflicted after Rang De Basanti, bluntly said, 'this is not for me.' Ranveer Singh read the script, impressed with the character, but ultimately declined. Mehra admits, 'I never understood why.' Enter the perfect pick After those three rejections, Farhan Akhtar stepped in. Within just 15 minutes of hearing the concept, he was all in. His portrayal as the legendary runner Milkha Singh, supported by Divya Dutta, Pawan Malhotra, Yograj Singh, Prakash Raj—and a cameo by Sonam Kapoor—transformed the film completely. From Rs 30 cr budget to global hit Despite its modest Rs 30 crore budget, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag surpassed box-office expectations, earning Rs 108 crore net in India and Rs 168 crore globally, quintupling its investment. Awards galore Besides its massive box office success, the film swept awards — 55 in total — and solidified Farhan's place in Bollywood not just as an actor but a performer with serious depth. From rejections to record-breaker, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag wasn't just a movie — it was a race to the finish line that no one saw coming.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
HT This Day: May 29, 1958 -- India wins two more gold medals; sprint double by Milkha Singh
Tokyo: India's star sprinter, Milkha Singh, in another great performance today won the 200 metres title to complete a magnificent double in the Asian Games here. In what the young Services athlete himself termed a ' win or die ' race, Milkha Singh breasted the tape a fraction of a second ahead of Pakistan's Abdul Khaliq, Asia's fastest runner, to equal the Games record of 21.6 seconds set up by M. Shariff Butt of Pakistan in the second Asian Games at Manila four years ago. Yesterday he had won easily in the 400 metres with a timing of 47 seconds to give India their first Gold Medal of the Games. This was the first time Milkha Singh was running with Abdul Khaliq and just as he had finished the race, he tripped and fell down prostrate on the ground bruising his knees. The injury was not, however, serious, and Milkha Singh said later that it would not affect his running in 400 metres relay race tomorrow. Possibly he could have improved on the Asian record, but Milkha Singh said just before the end his thigh muscles grew stiff and that slowed him down. Another Gold Medal was won by India in the discus throw to take her total tally to four. This was not, however, as expected through Parduman Singh, the burly ' Samson ' of the Services, but through his colleague. Balkar Singh, whom Parduman Singh had easily surpassed in the National Games at Cuttack. Balkar Singh took the discus with a record throw of 47.66 metres (156 ft. 4-1 4 in.), easily improving on Parduman Singh's figures of 142 ft., 3-5 8 in, at Manila and 153 ft. 6-1 2 in, at Cuttack. Parduman Singh himself was third with a throw of 45.67 metres to give India their first Bronze Medal. India have now won this event at all the three Asian Games. At the end of the fourth day of the Games. India had won four Gold Medals, two Silver and one Bronze, compared to Japan's bag of 30, 18 and 12 and Iran's 7, 10 and 6. Off form India, however, lost the title in 110 metres hurdles they had won at Manila, when Siri Chand, then national champion, ran fourth to G. Razik of Pakistan. Razik completed the distance in 14.4 sec., lowering Sarwan Singh's record of 14.7 sec. at Manila. Siri Chand clocked 14.9 sec. India's versatile representative in the decathlon, Muthiah. put in a creditable performance in the athletics of the event, but at the half-way period of this tough competition was third with Katsuki (Japan). each scoring 3, 468 points, Yang Chuan Kuang (Taiwan) was leading at the end of the day with a total of 4, 068 points and his colleague, Lin Te Sheng, was next with 3, 514 points. Both Mary Leela Rao and Stephie D'Souza today qualified for the final of the women's 100 metres, but they will have to put in that extra reserve to be in the picture at the final. D'Souza was third in her heat with a timing of 13.1 sec, and Leela Rao was also similarly placed in the next heat, clocking 13.2 sec. The best timing in these heats was 12.9 sec. and in the preliminary heats D'Souza had actually timed 13 sec. In light-weight boxing, Sunder Rao won against Burma's Yalchit on points. But the football team was unlucky to be beaten by Indonesia by the odd goal of three. But this result does not affect India's entry in the next round of the Asian football, where they meet Hong Kong on Friday. Clean fight Sunder Rao waged a clean fight. In the first round he parried in the beginning, studying the opponent, but took the offensive soon. Yai was aggressive in the second round and repeatedly fouled, but Rao had the upper hand. In the final round, Rao unleashed a flurry of lefts and rights and won unanimously on points. In the football match against Indonesia, for most of the time the game was in the Indonesian half. India pressed time and again with the team playing well but missed two gilt-edged chances when the ball hit the post. Indonesia drew first blood when left-in Tjiang headed the ball into the goal in the 11th minute. India equalized through left-in Rahmatulla in the 16th minute of the second half. But Tjiang decided the issue when he shot Indonesia's second goal in the 35th minute. Teams: INDIA: Thangaraj; Aziz and Latif; Kempaiya, Ahmed Hussain and Noor; Banerjee, Goswami, Damodran, Rahmatulla and Balaram. In the quarter-finals on May 30, the matches will be: China vs. Israel, Hong Kong vs. India, the Philippines vs. Indonesia, and Viet-Nam vs. South Korea. The semi-finals and finals will be played on the succeeding days. Until today the 14 teams had been playing preliminary matches in four groups, with the two leading teams qualifying for the quarter-finals. China, Hong Kong, Korea and Israel were all unbeaten. Those eliminated were Pakistan, Malaya, Burma, Japan, Singapore and Iran.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Don't make singers promoting drugs role models: Punjab CM
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday urged youngsters to reject singers who glorify drugs and instead encouraged them to look up to sport icons, such as the legendary athlete Milkha Singh and cricketer Harmanpreet Kaur, as role models. Speaking at the Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh event along with his Haryana counterpart Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab and Haryana governors Gulab Chand Kataria and Bandaru Dattatraya, respectively, Mann said: 'Today, I can see a revolution against drugs in Chandigarh. Don't make singers who sing songs promoting drugs your role model. Let your ideal be Milkha Singh or Harmanpreet Singh. People of Punjab are famous for joining the army, for wrestling, for kabaddi, and for bhangra. But our fame has faded. If the stone in a ring gets faded, the value of the ring diminishes. If Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh shine, the whole country will shine.' He highlighted his government's 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh (War Against Drugs)', a campaign launched on February 28 that aims to rid Punjab of the drug problem by targeting smugglers and peddlers. Tried to take everyone along: Kataria Earlier, Kataria led the Walk for Drug-Free Chandigarh along with Haryana CM Saini. The objective of the event was to prevent youngsters from falling prey to drug addiction. The march began from the Punjab Raj Bhavan in Sector 6 and ended at Tiranga Park in Sector 17 after a stop at the UT Secretariat. Kataria said efforts are underway to fight drug addiction and he wanted to contribute to them. He said several Olympic-level players had joined the walk for drug-free Chandigarh campaign. 'I have tried to take everyone along,' said the governor, who had undertaken a six-day padyatra on April 3 from the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in Dera Baba Nanak town of Gurdaspur district. That march culminated at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 8. He said the border state of Punjab was vulnerable as neighbouring Pakistan was fighting a proxy war by sending drugs to create problems in India. During the march, he urged citizens to make the campaign against drugs a people's movement. Meanwhile, the Punjab government also launched an anti-drug awareness campaign, 'Nasha Mukti Yatra', on May 2, that will cover every village and ward of the state in May and June. Haryana CM seeks better coordination 'So many youngsters are going towards the direction of drugs, there are challenges in front of us, including social media. We need to stay away from this in order to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat vision, which is why this event has been organised in Chandigarh,' Saini told reporters at the event. He emphasised the importance of coordination between the states and enforcement agencies to address the growing drug menace. 'The people of Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab are doing commendable work in this direction. If the police take action against illegal drug trafficking in any particular state, the drug dealers start moving towards the neighbouring states. This problem can be stopped if various states and enforcement agencies work together in coordination. I believe the Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh administrations need to coordinate better for this. I have full faith that together we will eradicate this addiction from its roots,' Saini added. (With ANI inputs)
