Bollywood hair designer Darshan Yewalekar: Vicky Kaushal is chill and Ranveer Singh surrenders to your vision

From dreaming of the stars as an aspiring aeronautical engineer to shaping some of Bollywood’s most iconic looks, Darshan Yewalekar’s journey has been anything but ordinary. Today, he’s a noted hair designer known for crafting unforgettable styles in cinematic spectacles like Padmaavat, Bajirao Mastani, Laal Kaptaan, and 83.

But his beginnings were humble—a small-town boy from Bhusawal (Maharashtra), raised in a family of modest means.He recalls, “I scored 60% in my 12th science exams and dreamt of studying further in a big city. But due to financial constraints, my father sat me down and said we couldn’t afford it. My mom was a beautician, and when one door closed, I thought of giving hairstyling a shot. I didn’t know anything, but I had seen her work.

That’s how it all started.”With a monthly salary of just ₹2,000 at his first job in a local salon, Darshan moved to Pune to train and eventually made his way to Mumbai under the guidance of a senior stylist. It was there that fate intervened, landing him on the sets of Subhash Ghai’s Yuvvraaj, styling none other than Salman Khan.

The Ranveer Singh era and a decade of transformation:Darshan’s long-standing creative partnership with Ranveer Singh began soon after, culminating in a decade of bold, radical transformations — both on and off screen.

He says, “Ranveer has perfect hair, and more importantly, he surrenders completely to the process. He gives 500 per cent to your vision and showcases it with 1000 per cent conviction. He’s not afraid of experimentation. From twin ponytails to asymmetrical quiffs and even mohawks, he’s carried it all with style.

”One unforgettable moment was during Bajirao Mastani, when they debated whether Ranveer should shave his head.

“I told him, let’s not fake it. Let’s do this for real. If you want to feel like Bajirao, this is the way. And we shaved it off. It was a surreal, unforgettable moment.”Styling the stars: Saif Ali Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and moreBesides Ranveer, Darshan has worked with stars like Saif Ali Khan, Vicky Kaushal, and Akshay Kumar. “Saif is a thorough professional. I remember before the shoot of Laal Kaptaan, I felt the beard wasn’t working.

I told him I needed to redo it. It was already 6 pm. He calmly said, ‘Go for it’. That kind of trust is rare,” he shares, and adds, “Vicky is the most chill. I once took over an hour styling him for a shoot, and he patiently let me work.

When I needed five more minutes, he smiled and said, ‘Take your time’. That humility makes all the difference.”Crafting period drama perfectionDesigning for historical dramas like Padmaavat and Bajirao Mastani brought their own set of challenges.

“There are few authentic references, so you have to imagine and interpret. For Khilji, we went with wild, unruly hair to reflect his menacing nature. Bajirao’s look evolved through the film, mirroring his emotional and psychological journey,” explains Darshan.Even in modern historicals like Kesari 2, in which he styled Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan, the attention to detail was paramount. He shares, “We had to get the British characters right too—like General Dyer.

That meant wigs, moustaches, and era-appropriate styling for characters like Regina Cassandra’s Parvathy, who transitions from South Indian traditions to Victorian elegance.”Behind-the-scenes stories and dream collaborationsDarshan has his fair share of on-set stories. “Once, while trimming Salman bhai’s hair, he turned his head and the trimmer nicked his ear. I panicked, but he just dabbed some cologne and told me to continue,” he laughs.He also fondly remembers Berlin, where he styled Ranveer for Gully Boy’s international premiere. “I dressed up too, just to take a photo with him. That pose became our signature — we recreate it every time now.”What’s next?With a growing list of film projects and a wish list that includes working with Rajinikanth, Kamal Haasan, Hrithik Roshan, Rajamouli, and Mani Ratnam, Darshan shows no signs of slowing down. “I fell in love with this craft. The joy of transforming someone and watching them light up — that’s irreplaceable. I didn’t choose this path — it chose me. And I surrendered to it completely,” he concludes.