Sonam Kapoor gets the chance to play the controversial role in the athlete's biopic

Ever since she signed Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, popular belief is that Sonam Kapoor is playing Milkha Singh's wife in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's biopic on the legendary athlete.

On the contrary, it is learnt that she plays a part of The Flying Sikh's (as he was known) love life that's unknown to people.

And that's not all. To get a better picture of his secret love life, the actress will now need to spend time interacting with the 76-year-old Milkha and understand the romance that he shared with his secret lover.

Mehra asserts that his movie is not just about the athlete. "It's also about the man and his personal life.

This love was an important part of Milkha's life, and came much before his wife, Nirmal Kaur. And Nirmalji entered his life post the period that we've covered, " elaborates the director. "It starts from when Milkha lost both his parents in the partition massacre. After he had lost his family, this girl was his only support."

Mehra says the Milkha's secret romance would be reconstructed through conversations with Milkha, of which Sonam and Farhan Akhtar would be an integral part.

In keeping with the lead character's love story, Sonam and Farhan are also expected to enact some passionate scenes in the film.

In action

An avid sportsperson himself, Mehra reminisces growing up with the legend.

"I used to go to the National Stadium twice a day to swim. Milkha also used to train there. He was the first global sports hero from India, " he recalls, still amazed that out of the 80 races Milkha ran, he won 76.

"When I see the young generation today including my son demanding all kinds of fancy accessories I want to remind them that Milkha had nothing but a pair of legs.

And he broke all records. Without doubt he is the greatest sportsperson this country has produced, " says Mehra. Though Bhaag Milkha Bhaag would be in Hindi it will also be dubbed in foreign languages.