Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra says "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" is life defining film for him.

Starring Farhan Akhtar and Sonam Kapoor, the biopic hits screens tomorrow.. "It's a life defining film for me and my life," Mehra told reporters here. Describing the childhood of Milkha in the film as its important part, Mehra said, "It was a lost childhood due to Partition of the country. The characters in this film are true to life and reality."

Mehra said the film also sheds light on not so great moments in Milkha's life. "In his early days Milkha even went to Tihar jail, but he wanted to earn something by hardwork and respect and thus decided to join the Army," Mehra said adding that "after three attempts Milkha succeeded to get into the Army."

"Army recognised Milkha and provided him a platform from where he rose. I dedicate this film to Army," he said adding that the film will be screened in 125 Army centres. Mehra said that he could not sleep for two to three months after meeting Milkha because he wanted to make his biopic. "Milkha got lot of offers from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore, but he decided to give me the story for Rs one.


That one rupee of 1960's Rome Olympic is much more than Rs ten crore in my eyes," he said. Mehra said that he was lucky that he was selected by Milkha to make the film. On being asked was he comfortable working with Farhan, Mehra said Farhan made my job easy.

"I work with instinct...I don't listen to my own mind... if during the making of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag I was away from my instinct Farhan Akhtar who himself is a director provided me a bouncing board," Mehra said. Writer Prasoon Joshi said that he feel that Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is an "unique film."

"This film required lot of raw material and historical facts and there understanding. Besides, historical understanding of time and Milkha was also required before penning down the story.

I have read lot of literature and it helped in understanding the saga of Partition," Joshi said. Joshi said that the film has no negative impact on Pakistan as "it shows how Partition affected the mind of a child... its not a political statement."