File photo of Farhan Akhtar, Milkha Singh and Deepak Kuntawala. (Sterling Media)

Farhan Akhtar, who played Milkha Singh in biopic “Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”, feels the sprint legend’s comments over the appointment of a Bollywood celebrity as the goodwill ambassador for the Indian contingent at Rio Olympics were taken out of context and twisted. (@Siliconeer, #Siliconeer, #Bollywood, #FarhanAkhtar, #MilkhaSingh, #SalmanKhan)

Salman Khan’s appointment by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the games’ face from India was met with mixed reactions.

When asked about the controversy, Farhan said, “It is not for me to decide (who should be appointed), it is the IOA’s decision. But I must say something, what Milkha ji said and how it was put out was very unfortunate.”

Singh had said he would have preferred to see a sportsperson being made the goodwill ambassador and there was no need to import a person from Bollywood.

Anil Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar (r), at IIFA press conference in New Delhi, April 28. The 17th edition of IIFA is scheduled to take place June 23-26, in Madrid, Spain. (Press Trust of India)
Anil Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar (r), at IIFA press conference in New Delhi, April 28. The 17th edition of IIFA is scheduled to take place June 23-26, in Madrid, Spain. (Press Trust of India)

Singh’s comments did not go down well with the Salman’s scriptwriter father Salim Khan, who claimed that Bollywood was responsible for resurrecting Milkha Singh “from fading away in oblivion.”

Farhan, 42, said Singh’s comments were blown out of proportion.

“He was asked his opinion about an actor being made brand ambassador. He, as honestly as he has always spoken, said he wished it was a sportsperson. He said, ‘I don’t have anything against the actor’,” Farhan said at an event in New Delhi, April 28.

“I think he is entitled to that opinion and I think what he said was twisted.”