2013 · Film
Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's biopic of sprinter Milkha Singh, the 'Flying Sikh', played by Farhan Akhtar, from Partition refugee to Indian Army runner and international champion.
Reviewed by Movie Mandala, Sun, 18 Oct, 2026
Where to watch
IndiaAs of 18 October 2026, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is streaming in India on Prime Video with a subscription.
- Checked Sun, 18 Oct, 2026Open ↗
The story
At the 1960 Rome Olympics, Indian sprinter Milkha Singh is running the 400-metre final when his coach's shout of "Bhaag Milkha bhaag" sends him back to painful childhood memories. The story then moves through his life: losing his family during the Partition of 1947, surviving as a refugee boy in Delhi, drifting into petty crime, and joining the Indian Army, where a coach spots his raw speed. Discipline, rivalries and heartbreak shape his rise as a runner.
Spoiler-free: only the set-up.
Who it suits
A good choice for families and anyone who likes inspiring true-story sports films. It is rated U but runs over three hours and includes Partition violence, a short intimate scene and some rough training sequences, so parents of younger children may want to watch with them.
Genres:SportsTrue storiesDrama
Curation to help you choose, not a review.
Background
The film is inspired by The Race of My Life, the autobiography Milkha Singh co-wrote with his daughter Sonia Sanwalka. Singh, a Commonwealth Games champion and two-time Asian Games 400-metre champion, sold the film rights for one rupee, with a clause giving a share of profits to the Milkha Singh Charitable Trust. Prasoon Joshi wrote the screenplay, and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures produced it with ROMP Pictures.
It opened on 12 July 2013 on about 1,200 screens worldwide. Wikipedia reports a budget of ₹41 crore and a worldwide gross of about ₹210 crore. Its U certificate drew criticism from some CBFC members because of a sex scene and violence. At the 61st National Film Awards it won Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Best Choreography. At the 59th Filmfare Awards it won Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor for Farhan Akhtar, among other awards.
The facts
- Language
- Hindi
- Hindi
- Hindi original
- Genre
- Biographical sports drama
- Runtime
- 187 min
- Certificate
- U
- Director
- Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
- Cast
- Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Pavan Malhotra, Art Malik
Questions people ask
- Where can I watch Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in India?
- As of 18 October 2026, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is streaming in India on Prime Video with a subscription.
- Is Bhaag Milkha Bhaag in Hindi?
- Yes. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a Hindi-language film.
- Is Bhaag Milkha Bhaag suitable for children?
- Bhaag Milkha Bhaag has a CBFC U certificate, which means it is suitable for viewers of all ages.
- How long is Bhaag Milkha Bhaag?
- Bhaag Milkha Bhaag runs for 3 hours 7 minutes (187 minutes).