Milkha Singh or the ‘Flying Sikh’ passed away on Friday night after battling COVID-19 for over a month. He was the first Indian athlete to win a gold medal at an individual event at the Commonwealth Games. Singh also made history by representing India in three Olympics, in Melbourne (1956), Rome(1960) and Tokyo (1964). 

His life got closely intertwined with Bollywood after the release of his biopic ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’. The Farhan Akhtar starrer is based on his autobiography ‘The Race of My Life. 

Also read: Milkha Singh: 5 must-read excerpts from the Flying Sikh’s autobiography

The movie depicts his struggle after being orphaned by the post-Partition violence, becoming a refugee on the run, protecting his sister from an abusive husband, trying to find a goal in his life, earning the bread through literal sweat and blood and finally finding the love of his life. 

With the announcement of the tragic news of his death, many Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to express their grief. 

Also read: Anguished: Internet reacts to the death of legendary athlete Milkha Singh

Farhan Akhtar penned down an emotional letter addressing it to “Milkha ji”. He said that Singh would forever live on for he represented a dream. 

“When I reflect upon my life, I can clearly see how my passion for running has dominated my life. The images that flash through my mind are those running….running…running”, Milkha Singh had once said in an interview and he is now on another journey, probably running to another world.