'120 Bahadur': Farhan Akhtar on Being Reminded of 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' and Why He's Not Looking for 'Baseline Entertainment'
'I don’t go looking around for stories that give messages,' Farhan Akhtar said during the teaser launch of '120 Bahadur'
Actor Farhan Akhtar has been selective with his onscreen appearances in recent years, and there's a reason behind that. At the teaser launch of his upcoming war drama 120 Bahadur, the actor-filmmaker revealed that he's no longer drawn to “baseline entertainment” and is constantly looking for stories that have a more meaningful, deeper connection.
Akhtar was last seen in the 2021 sports drama Toofaan, which had a direct-to-streaming release on Prime Video, while his last theatrical feature was The Sky Is Pink in 2019.
"I don’t go looking around for stories that give messages,” Akhtar said during the post-screening interaction. “I would like to engage beyond baseline entertainment, which is important to me. I search for stories that resonate on a human level, that inspire you or make you think about something different, something that helps you channelise your feelings and thoughts.”
That pursuit led him to 120 Bahadur—a grand war epic produced by Excel Entertainment and Trigger Happy Studios, where he plays Param Vir Chakra awardee Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, one of the legendary 120 soldiers who stood their ground during the Battle of Rezang La in 1962.
Reflecting on what drew him to the role, Akhtar shared a rare moment of emotional déjà vu when filmmaker Razneesh Ghai approached him with the story of 120 Bahadur.
"I had a feeling which I’ve only ever felt once before in my entire life—when Rakeysh (Omprakash Mehra) came and spoke to me about Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. That’s when I told Razy (Ghai), ‘One hundred percent, I want to be a part of this film. It’s a story that should reach the masses’—the story of not just Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, but that of all these 120 soldiers, because what they all did there is unbelievable. I’m happy and proud to be a part of this film," he added.
With Akhtar stepping into a fierce, battle-hardened role, 120 Bahadur is poised to be both a cinematic spectacle and a stirring tribute to unshakeable courage. The film is set to release on November 21.