Little Champ

“I didn’t know much about Milkha Singh besides what I had read on the internet. We never studied him in school,so I was a little tense. Also,for the audition,no lines were given to us. They told us to be ourselves,and present something. So,I prepared a skit with the help of my father,on what happens when you reach school late,” says Japtej.

The skit worked and Japtej was called in for the second round of dialogues,and then for the screen test in Delhi,which was to be held in front of Mehra. “All he said was that he had found the young Milkha,” says Japtej,who was selected out of 6,600 boys for the role.

Needless to say,being a Sikh worked in his favour. His happiest moment came when the Flying Sikh himself complimented Japtej,saying,“You remind me of myself in younger days. I am revisiting my childhood with you.”

And then began the drill: two months of intense training in running by coach Jasbir Singh at the Sector 7 Sports Complex,and swimming at the Sector 23 pool,all expenses paid. “They would pick me up after school,and take me for practice for two hours everyday,” says Japtej. “There are sequences in the film where I am required to run long distance in cobbled streets,even next to a train. Those were tough,” he says.

“Five people were at his service,ready with slippers at the end of each shot so that he doesn’t get injured,” adds his father. Acting workshops were ruled out,as Mehra wanted a natural performance out of Japtej. Ask about Farhan Akhtar,and Japtej shares how Akhtar would enquire about his school and studies and toss general knowledge questions at him.

At 42 minutes,Japtej has grabbed quite a share of footage in the film. Obvious questions come his way — how does he feel,favourite dialogues and whom did he like the most. For Japtej,everything was just perfect. “I want to be an actor — in Hindi films,” he says. “Not before he completes his studies,” adds his father,who has the final word. For now,Japtej can’t wait for his friends at Yadavindra Public School Mohali (his school) to watch the film on July 12.