Divya Dutta reveals why she initially declined Bhaag Milkha Bhaag; says, “I had a huge crush on Farhan Akhtar”

Divya Dutta talks about her film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag co-starring Farhan Akhtar.

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

May 25, 2023 - 1:04 PM IST

Bollywood actress Divya Dutta recently opened up about her initial hesitation in accepting the role in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's critically acclaimed film, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. The film, which portrayed the awe-inspiring journey of Indian athlete Milkha Singh, featured Farhan Akhtar in the lead role. In a recent interview, Divya Dutta revealed an intriguing fact about her initial reaction to the movie offer. She admitted that she had initially declined the opportunity because of a “huge crush” she had on Farhan Akhtar. Divya candidly shared that she didn't want to play the role of Farhan's sister, as it would have required her to portray a sibling bond with the actor she admired.

Divya Dutta reveals why she initially declined Bhaag Milkha Bhaag; says, “I had a huge crush on Farhan Akhtar”

During a conversation with PinkVilla, Divya Dutta discussed her reservations about portraying the role of Farhan Akhtar's sister in the movie. She said, “I wasn’t doing it because I had a huge crush on Farhan at that time. I said, ‘Why should I play his sister?’ Rakeysh said but you are an actor, you are a professional. I said, ‘Yeah but… you know…’”

Despite her initial reservations, Divya eventually reconsidered her decision and agreed to do the role.

Additionally, Divya Dutta recounted an interesting incident during the filming process. She revealed that on the day she was scheduled to begin shooting for the film, director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra requested her to arrive on set a day earlier. When Divya arrived as instructed, Rakeysh surprised her by introducing her to someone. As Rakeysh tapped on someone's shoulder, Divya was taken aback to discover that it was Farhan Akhtar himself standing before her. She said, “He turned. I just kept looking at him and said, ‘This is not Farhan at all! This is Milkha.’”

Divya Dutta recalled another memorable scene from the filming process, where Farhan's character presents her with gold earrings. She explained that the scene didn't have a predetermined ending, and director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra encouraged her to come up with something on her own. During the performance of that scene, Divya drew inspiration from a previous scene where Milkha's father had saluted him. With that in mind, she decided to salute Milkha towards the end of the scene. The heartfelt gesture resonated deeply with the entire film unit, stirring up a wave of emotions that prompted them to come together for a group hug. She stated, “I was shocked how did I do this? How did I remember this? We came together for a group hug and cried. Some films and moments become so special without realizing how.”

Divya's performance in the film was widely appreciated, further solidifying her reputation as a versatile and talented actress. She seamlessly embodied the character, bringing depth and authenticity to her portrayal of the sibling relationship between her and Farhan Akhtar's character, Milkha Singh.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Divya Dutta speaks about a rocking 2022; opens up about her love for Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan while growing up: “I had a huge crush on both Salman and Shah Rukh. I don’t know how I handled both of them in Karan Arjun. Like how can I decide who is HOTTER?”