Aalim Hakim refuses to work with celebs whose managers disrespect crew
Synopsis
Top Bollywood hairstylist Aalim Hakim has drawn a public line: no more assignments where managers mistreat crew. The response — from Kajol, Bobby Deol, Rajkummar Rao, Farah Khan and others — suggests the sentiment runs deep. It is a rare, name-backed call for workplace dignity in an industry where below-the-line workers rarely make headlines.
Key Takeaways
Aalim Hakim announced on Instagram that he will refuse work with actors whose managers mistreat creative professionals or crew members.
He highlighted that crew members “leave their homes before sunrise” and miss “festivals, birthdays, families, sleep, and peace” to serve actors.
Kajol , Bobby Deol , Rajkummar Rao , Farah Khan , Zoya Akhtar , Arjun Kapoor , and others publicly backed his stand.
Hakim warned that actors may not realise how badly their reputation is being damaged by their managers’ conduct on set.
The post urges the industry to treat all creative professionals with dignity, regardless of their role or seniority.
Celebrity hairstylist Aalim Hakim has publicly announced he will no longer work with actors whose managers or representatives mistreat creative professionals and crew members on set. The announcement, made via his official Instagram account, has drawn widespread support from across the Hindi film industry, with names including Kajol, Bobby Deol, Rajkummar Rao, and Farah Khan rallying behind him.
What Aalim Hakim Said
In his post, Hakim wrote: “We have decided to step away from working with actors whose teams disrespect, demean, or mistreat any creative professional or crew member. Because talent deserves dignity. Hard work deserves kindness. And every artist deserves respect.”
He also called out a pattern he described as deeply troubling: “It is heartbreaking to see managers speaking rudely, humiliating people, throwing attitude, or releasing frustration on innocent crew members — especially for mistakes that are not even theirs. Authority does not give anyone the right to disrespect another human being.”
The Human Cost Behind the Camera
Hakim’s post shed light on the often-invisible sacrifices made by below-the-line crew. “Many of these artists leave their homes before sunrise. Stand for endless hours. Miss festivals, birthdays, families, sleep, and peace… Only to make sure the actor they work with looks and feels their absolute best,” he wrote.
He also flagged a reputational risk that actors themselves may not recognise: “The saddest part is…sometimes actors don’t even realise how badly their image, reputation, and energy are being damaged outside the vanity van because of the behaviour of the people representing them.”
Bollywood Backs the Stand
Rajkummar Rao commented, “Absolutely sir. Respect and Equality two utmost important things.” Gajraj Rao wrote, “Huge respect for you, Aalim, for saying this out loud and clear.” Farah Khan responded with “Well done Aalim,” while Rupali Ganguly added “Well said.”
Arjun Kapoor expressed solidarity, writing “With U on this @aalimhakim bhai.” Zoya Akhtar commented “Bang On,” and Chitrangda Singh wrote “AGREE!” Kajol dropped two raised-hands emojis, while Bobby Deol, Arjun Rampal, Pulkit Samrat, and Aparshakti Khurana also expressed support through emoticons.
Why This Moment Matters
Hakim’s stand arrives at a time when conversations around workplace dignity in the entertainment industry are gaining momentum globally. His willingness to walk away from high-profile assignments over ethical grounds signals a shift in how senior creative professionals are beginning to assert boundaries. Whether this prompts broader industry introspection around how managers conduct themselves on behalf of talent remains to be seen.
Point of View
And the speed with which established names rallied suggests this is a widely-felt grievance, not an isolated complaint. The harder question is whether solidarity in comment sections translates into changed behaviour on set, or whether the industry’s power asymmetries — where crew are easily replaced and managers rarely held accountable — will quietly reassert themselves once the post fades from the feed.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Aalim Hakim announce on Instagram?
Celebrity hairstylist Aalim Hakim announced he will no longer work with actors whose managers or teams disrespect, demean, or mistreat creative professionals and crew members. He posted the statement on his official Instagram account, calling for dignity and kindness in the workplace.
Which Bollywood celebrities supported Aalim Hakim’s post?
Kajol, Bobby Deol, Rajkummar Rao, Farah Khan, Gajraj Rao, Arjun Kapoor, Zoya Akhtar, Rupali Ganguly, Chitrangda Singh, Arjun Rampal, Pulkit Samrat, and Aparshakti Khurana all expressed support through comments or emoticons.
Why did Aalim Hakim take this stand?
Hakim cited a pattern of managers speaking rudely, humiliating crew, and venting frustration on workers who were not at fault. He also pointed out that actors are often unaware of how such behaviour damages their own reputation and image outside the vanity van.
What broader issue does Hakim’s post highlight?
The post draws attention to workplace dignity for below-the-line crew in the entertainment industry — workers who often sacrifice personal time and family milestones to support productions. It raises questions about accountability for managers who represent talent but operate without public scrutiny.
