This Bollywood Hair Designer Tells Us What It Takes To Maintain A Celebrity's Picture-Perfect Hair

Darshan Yewalekar can currently be listed as one of Bollywood’s top celebrity hair designers. From Ranveer Singh’s look in Padmaavat and Bajirao Mastani to styling Akshay Kumar and Vicky Kaushal, he’s the man behind them all.

His most recent projects include the period drama Kesari 2 and Jewel Thief. In an interaction with The Free Press Journal, he delves into the details of how he creates these looks, what it takes to style A-listers, the cost of maintaining a celebrity’s picture-perfect hair in Bollywood, and how filmmakers allocate budgets for hair designing in period dramas and biopics.

Q. For Kesari, what was the thought process behind these looks, and how did you collaborate with the actors (Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday) to shape their characters through hairstyling?

A. With Kesari 2, the goal was always to stay true to the period and the characters while also working with what felt right for each actor. When you’re involved in a period film like this, the aim is to recreate a world that audiences might have read about in history books but never seen on screen. For Akshay sir’s character, Sankaran Nair, we had a few reference images to begin with, which gave us a direction. But instead of copying the look exactly, we adapted it to the world we were building and to Akshay sir’s own personality. It had to feel natural, not forced. Madhavan sir’s character allowed for more creative freedom. He arrived on set with a beard, and I immediately felt a salt-and-pepper style would suit him well. It complemented both his appearance and the character’s persona. As for Ananya Panday, her look had to be very specific to the 1940s. Even a small mistake in her hairstyle or design could disrupt the period feel and distract the audience. So, we kept it simple, soft, and elegant, in line with the era. We also gave a lot of thought to every character’s appearance, how they lived, and where they came from. It wasn’t just about hair design—it was about telling a story through the smallest of details.

Q. For Jewel Thief, what was the brief given to you for creating Jaideep’s look, and how did you prep for it?

A. For Jewel Thief, the brief for Jaideep sir’s character was simple yet exciting. We had to completely transform him and present him with a never-before-seen avatar. Moving away from his usual grounded and realistic looks, we needed to take a totally different direction and give him a flamboyant style. As a preparatory step, I studied his facial structure and natural hair texture before exploring various references that felt bold yet believable and suited the world of Jewel Thief. I felt that a radically new version of Jaideep sir would fit perfectly into that setting. We tested a few different hairstyles, experimented with gelled slick-back looks, and tried multiple hair colours before finalising the one you now see. Getting the hair tone right was a challenge, as it had to match his skin tone and costumes. It also needed to look good under different lighting setups. He was very open to experimenting, which turned the trials and final execution into a very enjoyable experience. We also worked closely with the costume designer, because once the jewellery and bold accessories were added, the hair design had to complement that energy without overpowering it. It was about creating a completely new vibe for him—stylish, slightly edgy, but still grounded enough to feel real. Once everything came together, it all just clicked.

Q. How do filmmakers allocate budgets for hair design in period dramas and biopics?

A. Honestly, when it comes to period dramas or biopics, the budget for hair design depends on how seriously the filmmakers approach it and how relevant they consider it to the storytelling. In some cases, it is well planned, especially when it is supposed to be a key visual element, like in Padmaavat with Khilji or ’83, where we had to authentically recreate an entire era. In those cases, a considerable amount will be set aside in the overall budget for character styling. For such films, it is not about making someone look good or fashionable, but about ensuring that they authentically portray a character. The process usually begins with extensive research. We spend time studying old photographs, historical references, reading about the period, and understanding the textures and styling tools that would have been used. After that, we assess the actor’s face and hair type to finalise the look. Sometimes it just takes a small tweak, and sometimes it’s a complete transformation—like with Ranveer in Bajirao Mastani or Jaideep sir in Jewel Thief. So yes, budgeting is important, but more than that, it is the trust the director and producers place in us that truly makes the difference.

Q. What is the real cost of maintaining a celebrity’s picture-perfect hair in Bollywood?

A. Maintaining picture-perfect hair requires a lot of time, care, and attention. It’s not as easy as it looks and is not just about regular shampooing and blow-drying. There’s a whole process and a lot of effort behind every look, especially for films. Preparation usually starts weeks before the shoot, with multiple trials, camera tests, and lighting checks. Sometimes we need to build or import wigs, hairpieces, or work on custom colours to get everything just right. Once we lock in the look and shooting begins, new challenges arise. We must maintain the hair design day after day, regardless of the weather, lighting, or shoot schedule. Whether you’re on set at 5 a.m. or wrapping up at midnight, the hair must still look exactly as it did on Day One. Maintaining continuity is also a huge part of the job. Scenes are often shot out of order. You might film one part of a scene this week and the next part two months later, but the hairstyle must remain the same—even if filming continues a year later. We take many reference photos, make notes, and track every detail. Of course, there’s a cost involved, especially with high-quality hair products, various tools, and even hair treatments. Consistency is key, and maintaining it requires investment of time, energy, and resources.