His biopic on legendary sportsman Milkha Singh got a lot of commercial as well as critical acclaim opening doors for capturing success stories of other noted personalities like Mary Kom, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sarabjit Singh and Anna Hazare on celluloid. "It ('Bhaag Milkha Bhaag') has opened a new genre, given us courage to tell Indian stories that are inspiring and need to be told. I wanted to do a story on partition, the suffering of women and kids during that time I did it through the story of Milkha Singhji in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'," Mehra told PTI.
Ask him which are the biopic films he is looking forward to see, Mehra says, "I haven't thought about it yet. I am not judgemental I will watch once it releases. All of them are interesting. It is important how it (biopic) is told or made, presented and acted." Mehra doesn't plan to make a biopic soon again.
"Not at the moment," he said. After receiving critical and commercial accolades, a national award coming Mehra's way is a proud moment. "There is a feeling that you get of national recognition and you can't take it for granted. It (National Award) makes you feel proud.
I am happy for Milkha Singhji it is his life story that has got this important recognition. I am also happy that the film won award in the choreography department, it (song) was not done in a film style it was done in a natural and realistic way," Mehra said. Mehra has earlier won the national award for his films 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Delhi 6'. He feels it adds more responsibility to make better films. "It is a hat rick in a way but it is not a game of cricket. We have to work hard and come up with quality entertaining films," Mehra, whose film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' won the Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment said.
