Amitabh Bachchan’s hair is as legendary as his baritone voice and towering screen presence. The thick, wavy mane with a centre-parting and long sideburns defined the superstar of the 70s, but this signature look was never meant to be a fashion statement. It was born out of struggle and rejection.
The Struggle Behind The Style
On the latest season of Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, the megastar revealed a lesser-known chapter of his life. Despite being the son of renowned poet Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Teji Bachchan, and brother of businessman Ajitabh Bachchan, his initial days in Mumbai were full of hardships. He roamed the streets, went from one studio to another, spent days and nights on footpaths and railway stations, often without food and water. Producers would bluntly reject him saying – “You are too tall, your face is too small, no heroine will work with you.” To counter that criticism, he found a simple trick. He started growing his hair towards his temples to make his face look fuller and more balanced on screen. What was a practical fix for a technical objection, later became a national trend.
The Birth of the ‘Bachchan Cut’
Bachchan made his debut with Saat Hindustani (1969) but stardom came only after Zanjeer (1973). It was around this time that his new hairstyle took shape and became synonymous with his ‘Angry Young Man’ era. The look – thick hair, slight centre-parting, and long sideburns extending till the ears – came to be known as the ‘Bachchan Cut’. It dominated men’s fashion in India for more than a decade and was seen in his biggest blockbusters like Deewaar, Sholay, Don and Amar Akbar Anthony.
*The Man Behind The Hair* The architect of this iconic style was celebrated hairstylist Hakim Kairanvi. His son, celebrity stylist Aalim Hakim, once shared in an interview that his father started working with Bachchan right after Saat Hindustani. Kairanvi styled Big B for almost all his cult films including Zanjeer, Sholay, Don, Deewaar, and his last haircut for the actor was reportedly for Mard (1985).
From Long Locks To The French Beard
As his on-screen persona evolved, so did his hairstyle. The long-haired rebellious hero of the 70s transformed into the mature, authoritative host of Kaun Banega Crorepati in 2000, with shorter, neat hair and a distinguished French-cut beard. From a style adopted to hide criticism to a style that defined an entire decade of Hindi cinema, Amitabh Bachchan’s hair journey is truly a story of turning a flaw into an icon.
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Family Connect
Amitabh Bachchan married actress Jaya Bhaduri after the super success of Zanjeer in 1973. The couple has two children, Abhishek Bachchan and Shweta Bachchan Nanda, and shares a close, long-standing bond with the prestigious Kapoor family of Bollywood.
Written by – Prabhjyot Singh
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