10 actors who changed their hair for role

While an actor’s talent etches their character in our memories, much of the credit must also be given to the look created for the part. While some actors achieve a look with prosthetics and makeup, others take a different route and practically get into the skin of their characters by altering their own look. And with Katrina Kaif’s red haired look for Fitoor becoming an instant hit, we list some of the most dramatic transformations we’ve seen most recently.
Katrina Kaif
Playing the enchanting and enticing Firdaus in Fitoor couldn’t have been easy but Katrina looked more than up to the challenge and even coloured her hair completely red to lend authenticity to the part. And we love that she flaunted it with style when she made her first public appearance at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015.
Aamir Khan
We’ve practically lost count of the number of times Aamir Khan has altered his hair for a look and also of the number of times it has become a style statement. From the goatee in Dil Chahta Hai to the mohawk in Taare Zameen Par, he has not only grown his hair and mustache long to play Mangal Pandey and even gotten a jagged buzz cut for Ghajini. This time around, Aamir has gone the crew cut way again for Dangal, sporting a stubble with a salt and pepper touch.
Salman Khan
Salman Khan too is known for his transformative ease, starting with the long locks in Tere Naam that was reduced to a buzz cut by the end of the film. And most recently, his shaved head and mustached look for Sultan is definitely a refreshing change.
Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor surprised us all with his dapper Delhi dad act in Dil Dhadakne Do. Add to that, his salt and pepper hair and mustache added that extra hint of cool and suaveness to his suited-booted character Kamal Mehra.
Farhan Akhtar
Farhan ditched the short crop for long locks in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, only to go back to a regimented cut with a mustache for Wazir. But before you know it, his style has changed again and he now sports luscious long locks and a thick beard for his role in Rock On 2.
Shahid Kapoor
The handsome hunk went all-in to play the deranged Haider when he shaved his head for the role. Not only did his acting chops convey Haider’s degeneration into a madman, but his changing hair lengths throughout the film added to the chronology.
Ranveer Singh
They don’t call him dedicated to the craft for nothing. Shaving his head off to play the Peshwa Bajirao in Bajirao Mastani, Ranveer got the authentic look of a Peshwa warrior, whether it was the clean shaven young Bajirao or the older and successful warrior with the proud mooch, that became so popular and almost felt like an extension of Ranveer himself!
Kangana Ranaut
Kangana is known to take her craft to the next level with her intense prep and we first saw a glimpse of this when she chopped off her own hair on screen for a scene in Fashion (2008). For her role in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Rangoon, which she’s presently filming for, Kangana’s been maintaining a short bob to match the style sensibilities of the 1940s.
Tanvi Azmi
Just like her sister-in-law Shabana Azmi who shaved off her head for her role in Water, Tanvi Azmi went the extra mile too. Going all out to play Ranveer Singh’s mother in Bajirao Mastani, Tanvi Azmi’s impromptu decision to go bald for her role added depth to her intense and grey-shaded character as Ballal Bhat’s widow. She claims she even lost out on a few roles because of her look but it sure did pay off in the end!
Sanjay Dutt
Sanjay Dutt’s revamped version of Kancha Cheena in Agneepath was loathed, feared and loved in equal measure. And for the first time in his life and career, Sanjay Dutt shaved his head and his body hair to essay the role. While the actor admits the earlier aim was to use prosthetics and makeup, the poor weather conditions prompted him to submit to the razor swipe.