Mumbai: Much before filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar created box office history with the sports biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the director had offered the actor a pivotal role in his acclaimed drama Rang De Basanti. Mehra had offered Akhtar the part of Karan Singhania, which was eventually played by South star Siddharth in the film that chronicled the story of a group of college students who turn rebels for a cause.
The director recalled that Akhtar, who had made his directorial debut with Dil Chahta Hai in 2001, which also starred Khan, and was finishing Lakshya at the time, was taken aback when he offered the actor-filmmaker the project. "He was truly amused because he had just made Dil Chahta Hai and was finishing Lakshya. I told him I wanted him to act in my film and he could not believe it at that point of time!
"I had offered him the part of Karan, which was the only author backed character in the whole film. Farhan was fascinated. I could see the twinkle in his eyes. He wondered 'What's wrong with this guy who is seeing me act in a film?!'" Mehra told in an interview.
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The director said Akhtar loved the script but "couldn't see himself acting at that point of time". Years later, interestingly, Akhtar made his acting debut in 2008 with the musical drama Rock On!!. He saw a career turnaround five years later with Mehra's Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a biopic on the life of the late legendary athlete Milkha Singh. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag earned two National Awards for best popular film providing wholesome entertainment and best choreography for Ganesh Acharya.
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The director-actor duo has now reunited for Toofaan, another sports drama feature. Mehra said both he and Akhtar wanted to work together after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag but the right opportunity came their way only three years ago when the actor called up the filmmaker with a story idea he had heard. While Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was his attempt to understand the horror of India-Pakistan Partition, his latest is an exploration of the difficult lives of boxers. Toofaan is scheduled to be released on Amazon Prime Video on July 16.
