Hair design is crucial not only for shaping an actor’s persona on screen but also for setting trends off-screen. Bollywood’s leading hair designer, Darshan Yewalekar is the man behind some of the most iconic looks in cinema and on the red carpet, earning recognition as well as accolades.A recent example is Saif Ali Khan’s stylish appearance in the Netflix original ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins,’ which generated buzz when the trailer dropped two weeks ago. Known as a style icon across generations, Saif sported multiple looks that added intrigue to his character, thanks to Darshan’s artistry. Having designed some of Saif’s most memorable looks, including in ‘Laal Kaptaan,’ Darshan is now preparing for another milestone- styling Saif’s son, Ibrahim Ali Khan, for his upcoming film.By working with stars across generations, Darshan has displayed immense versatility and believes the process of transformative hair designing truly begins with the script. As he says, “Once you understand the story, you get a clear idea of the nuances that an actor will need to invest in a character. This also includes any hair-related restrictions and the type of hair styling needed for the character. In the films I’ve worked on with Saif and Ibrahim, the approach was quite different. With Saif, I needed to adhere to a distinct vision, while with Ibrahim, a newcomer, the approach was more open. He was eager to experiment, and we had ample time to refine and achieve the look that was finally finalised,” says Darshan.He also mentioned the special rapport he shares with Saif. “For ‘Jewel Thief,’ Saif joined the sets right after finishing another film, so we had to work with his existing hair. We eventually planned a mid-length hair design and carefully styled his hair to achieve a distinct look,” says Darshan adding that in fact, it was Saif who recommended his name to costume designer Mamta Anand.“Saif’s finesse and experience make him instantly aware of what works, which made collaborating with him effortless. Meanwhile, Ibrahim had seen me work on ‘Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani’ with Ranveer while he was assisting Karan Sir, so he already knew me well. It felt natural that he wanted me to design his look for his projects. He was open to shaping a character beyond just looking cool, fully embracing the craft and process, which was truly commendable,” he adds.Darshan believes that working with both father and son in the same year is an incredible honour. “While their styles are different, we crafted very specific and impactful looks for each. The encouraging feedback reinforces that while Saif is admired for being a very individualistic style icon, Ibrahim is also on his way to carve a unique niche for himself,” he concludes.
