India's legendary athlete, Milkha Singh, on whose life-story the recent film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' is based, is thrilled at the transformation his life is witnessing after the success of the Farhan Akhtar starrer.
`After the release of the film, I feel I am reborn and this movie has given me a brand new identity. I am getting lots of phones calls and messages.
People are asking me why they never came to know about my achievement for years. Even young kids have started recognising me and wave their hands when they see me. ` Milkha Singh told MiD DAY yesterday.
`Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (the director) gave me something I feel was due to me. The last six days since the release have been amazing, ` he added.
`Watching the film was like revisiting all the thrills and pains that I experienced on the track inside the stadium. I am happy Farhan Akhtar has done full justice to my story. I am especially impressed by the efforts he took to look the way I did in my youth. `
Milkha recalled the excruciating training schedules he maintained to keep up with the best runners. `There were many times that I was put on oxygen.
On some occasions, people had to take me away from the track, since I lay unconscious due to hard training. Sometimes, blood would pass through my urine as I ran for five to six hours. `
