PT Usha: I will say ‘no’ to a biopic until India wins Olympic gold in athletics

PT Usha, India’s sprint queen, missed a medal in the 1984 Olympics by 1/100th of a second. As a coach, she dreams of winning gold through her students. Which actor might be able to play PT Usha on screen? ‘No one,’ says her husband.

Pilavullakandi Thekkeparambil Usha, or PT Usha, is a legend. And legends deserve a biopic, as we know from Bollywood and Hollywood. But Usha isn’t interested — as a coach, she is just as focussed on winning medals as she was in her track and field career.

Athlete PT Usha, known as the ‘sprint queen’, says that if she had a better exposure, she would have won gold in the 1984 Olympics. (Rajesh Kashyap/HT Photo)

On a visit to Delhi for an event, the 52-year-old Usha tells us, “Every day, I get four-five calls from filmmakers across the world. They all want to make a movie on my life and journey, but every time, I say no.” Why so? “This is not the right time,” says Usha. “My dream is to see an Indian with a gold medal in athletics in the Olympics. The day this dream comes true, I will say yes to a filmmaker.”

Usha, who visited Delhi for the GAIL Indian Speedstar Season II Finale, is now coaching young athletes in her private academy, preparing them for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

If a biopic were to be made, which actor could play PT Usha? Pat comes the reply from her husband, V. Srinivasan: “No one. At present, no one can portray her. She is one of the most hardworking and sincere sportspersons; if any random actor portrays her, the audience won’t like it.”

Recalling the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics moment, when she missed the 400 metre hurdle bronze by 1/100th of a second, she says, “It still gives me the chills. I can’t forget that moment. Even after finishing the race, I was not tired at all. The athlete in me didn’t come out properly and I blame it on the exposure. If I had got a better exposure, I would have won.”