Mean, rugged look is back in B-town

New Delhi: Facial hair is back in style with the stylish male casting aside their razors and scissors to sport the rugged and manly look which was in vogue some years ago.

Abhishek Bachchan, who initiated a rugged and macho look when his peers were flaunting their clean and metrosexual image, has now gone for a moustache and stubble in Mani Ratnam’s forthcoming "Raavan". Brawny actor Ajay Devgan has got a grunge-like look and stubble for his comic role in "Golmaal 3". Tinsel town’s bad boy Salman Khan is also seen with a moustache in his role as a rustic cop in his home production "Dabangg."

"This year's fashion weeks at New York and Milan also saw male models sporting the old and a more stubborn look", says fashion designer Manoviraj Khosla.

Dimpled-cheek Abhay Deol had a rugged look with thick moustaches and stubble in his 'Manorama 6 feet under'. He was followed by none else than King Khan of tinsel town, who carried a similar look for 'Rabb ne bana di jodi', when he had just finished accomplishing six-pack abs for his previous movie.

Then came Saif Ali Khan in 'Race', Arshad Warsi in 'Ishqiya' and now Hrithik Roshan along with several other actors in Indian cinema are pursuing a more manly look, which fashion experts say, has come a full circle for Bollywood. Fashion experts also say that the macho look is going to stay in tinsel town for a while.

"With junior Bachchan exhibiting a moustache with his dhoti and gamchha look, I think this rugged macho look is going to stay for a while in the Bollywood," says Nitin Bal Chauhan , who is also a film-maker and an artist, apart from being a noted fashion designer.

Though fashion gurus believe the complete look of the protagonists, right from wardrobe accessories to hairstyles is character-driven, especially in Bollywood, they agree global trend has a major influence on the same.

However, not only do the trends across the boundaries influence how actors look on the celluloid, the ideological pattern of society also plays a deciding role, say stylists.

"In the era, when sincere professions like doctors, engineers, etc. were preferred by the youth, Bollywood actors also looked straight and sober", says Delhi-based fashion designer Deepika Sehgal.

With youth becoming more adventurous and professions like radio jockey topping their choice-list, men on big screen are seen exhibiting a peppy and a vibrant look.