Few directors paint a cinematic canvas as vividly as Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and fewer still have the audacity to redefine history with such grandeur. But what makes his magnum opuses even more immersive? The minute details—costumes, sets, and yes, hair. Enter Darshan Yewalekar, the man behind some of Bollywood’s most iconic character transformations. With the theatrical re-release of Padmaavat, Yewalekar takes us through the artistry and precision behind Ranveer Singh’s menacing look as Alauddin Khilji. “The first thing I heard about Khilji was that he had to be a ruthless, almost animalistic force of nature,” Yewalekar recalls. “That’s where the idea of his mane-like long hair came from. It had to symbolize power and ferocity—untamed, unpredictable, much like his personality.” The process, however, wasn’t as simple as just growing it out. “We spent over three months growing Ranveer’s beard and hair, while also working with extensions to achieve the exact volume and texture needed.” Bhansali’s vision was, as always, precise yet open to creative exploration. “He always pushes you to go beyond, to ask—what else can we do?” Yewalekar reveals. This collaborative energy birthed multiple variations—from the half-bun with gulal smeared across his face to the dual-braid warrior look. “Each style was carefully designed to reflect Khilji’s shifting moods—commanding, chaotic, or celebratory.” This isn’t Yewalekar’s first rodeo with Bhansali. From Saawariya to Bajirao Mastani, their partnership has seen some of Bollywood’s most memorable looks. “For Bajirao, the bald look was a risk, but one that paid off spectacularly. Padmaavat, on the other hand, was about pushing excess and intensity.”With Padmaavat back on the big screen, audiences once again get to witness the magic of meticulous craftsmanship—one that proves that even a strand of hair can tell a story.