Divya Dutta’s hands were ‘totally burned’ after she touched hot coals in a Bhaag Milkha Bhaag scene, but she didn’t call cut: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra

Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra gushed about working with actor Divya Dutta in the film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, which completes a decade this year. A biopic on the life of athlete Milkha Singh, the film was a critical and commercial success. Divya played Milkha’s sister, while Farhan Akhtar starred in the title role.

In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, the filmmaker described Divya as a ‘goddess’ that every aspiring actor should pray to. Recalling an anecdote about her, he said, “There was a scene in which Divya had to clean utensils with ash. That’s how we middle-class people also used to do it, we didn’t know any other way. Farhan arrives as Milkha, wearing a suit and glasses. But she doesn’t recognise him. The scene wasn’t written, we improvised it on location — her asking ‘kaun’, the mirror reflection shot…”

Also read | ‘Ranveer Singh and Hrithik Roshan passed on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Aamir Khan said it isn’t for me’: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra on casting Farhan Akhtar

He continued, “For the ash, the art department had lit some coals. We shot the scene, she was cleaning the utensils, I said action, she kept performing, gave the first shot. The shot got over, she was quietly washing her hands, and her hands were totally burned. By mistake, some hot coals were left in the ashes. But she didn’t cut the scene, she didn’t stop it, she didn’t complain. That is Divya Dutta for you.”

In an interview with Pinkvilla, Divya revealed that she initially turned the film down because she had a ‘huge crush’ on Farhan and didn’t want to play his sister. To mark the film’s 10-year anniversary, it is being re-released in 30 Indian cities. The filmmaker said that this time, the film will be accessible to hearing and speech impaired people as well, with a sign language translation playing in the corner of the frame.