Bhaag

Bhaag is a word used in several Indian languages, notably Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi, with multiple meanings. As a noun, bhaag commonly means a part, share, or portion of something, as in “mera bhaag” (my share). It can also be linked to fate or luck in some expressions, though that sense is more distant from the verb form. As a verb, bhaag is the imperative form of the roots meaning “to run,” so it is everyday usage to tell someone to hurry or to flee, as in the command “bhaag!” meaning “run away.”

Etymology and usage of the word reflect its bilingual environment. The noun sense derives from Sanskrit bhāga, meaning portion or part. The verb sense in Hindustani comes from the same linguistic family and is used in common speech to denote running or escaping, illustrating how a single root can branch into different grammatical roles.

In popular culture, Bhaag appears in film and media titles. The most widely known is Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), a biographical sports drama directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and starring Farhan Akhtar as Indian athlete Milkha Singh. The title uses bhaag in the sense of “run,” and the film traces Milkha Singh’s life and athletic achievements, emphasizing perseverance and struggle.

Beyond this flagship film, bhaag also features in other titles and phrases across Indian media, reflecting its dual meanings of part and of running. In everyday language, the word remains a versatile term used in instructions, expressions of fate or fortune, and descriptions of portions or quotas.