Mumbai, Dec 5 (IANS): Actor Farhan Akhtar hopes "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", a biopic on sprinter Milkha Singh, gives a boost to athletics in the country.

"I do believe that athletics does need a boost in the arm like many other sports do. There are a lot of thing we are planning to do through this film, through the message of this film and hopefully that will happen," the 38-year-old said here Tuesday at the Aamby Valley hill city where he kicked off a skydiving event.

Farhan, who spent a lot of time with Milkha Singh to work on his role, says the athlete wants the film to inspire young people to win an individual medal for the country.

"Milkhaji had said that his biggest dream with this movie is to get more people inspired to enter athletics, more people will get inspired to want to win an individual medal which really hasn't happened yet for this country," Farhan said.

"We hope to motivate young people through this film and somehow be involved in helping him (Milkha Singh) realise this dream that he has had for 60 years," he added.

Farhan has built a six-pack for the film, and it is a result of a strict workout regime.

Talking about the preparations for his role, Farhan said: "It does take a lot of hard work, eating correct, make sure you get enough rest because rest actually is as important for your body to look good as is exercising it."

"You need to give up on a lot of things but you know the reason for doing it and the cause for doing it is much larger than all of this and that keeps you going," he added.

Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" also stars Sonam Kapoor and is slated for release July 12, 2013.