Get real Farhan Akhtar !

Actor-filmmaker Farhan Akhtar seems to have found a perfect way to balance out the actor and the filmmaker in him. The director-turned-actor apparently prefers to alternate between his outing as a filmmaker with that of the actor. So, while Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara saw the actor in him take centre stage, his next film Don 2 saw him wield the baton as a filmmaker. Now up next in this alternating of roles, is him being an actor again, and he will soon be seen playing the Indian Olympian sprinter Milkha Singh in Rakeysh OmPrakash Mehra’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

While Farhan himself finds it tough to say which role does he prefer himself in, he does admit that being an actor lets him completely channelise into just one aspect, and that’s his on screen character. If sources are to be believed, then the actor’s leaving no stone unturned to ready for his role as the Indian sprinter. “Farhan recently met Milkha in Delhi who had flown from Chandigarh especially to meet him. Farhan spent a few days with him and imbibed a lot from the Flying Sikh,” says a source. 

According to a source from the production unit, Farhan is really keen to keep his portrayal as real as possible for this film that will go on floors this March. And for that, he has even started to grow his beard. “He is very particular and doesn’t want to use artificial wigs and beard. So he’s been growing his hair and beard for quite sometime now,” adds the source. But it’s not just the look that Farhan’s working on. The actor’s also been training to get the kind of physique like that of Milkha.

 “Farhan has been undergoing rigorous training to get an athletic body.  He has been jogging everyday everyday, and working more on increasing his stamina levels too,” the source adds. Interestingly, this is the first time that the actor – who has had a great run with the award season, getting multiple awards for acting, writing and producing – will be working outside his production banner.