'Kesari Chapter 2' Hair Designer Darshan Yewalekar Discusses the Challenges of Creating Period Looks

Synopsis

Darshan Yewalekar, the hair designer for 'Kesari Chapter 2,' shares insights into the challenges and rewards of working on period films. He reflects on the demanding looks he crafted, especially for General Dyer, and appreciates the collaborative efforts with director Karan Johar and the talented cast.

Key Takeaways

Darshan Yewalekar finds period films rewarding yet challenging.
Creating General Dyer’s look required extensive effort.
Karan Johar’s support was crucial during the production.
Collaboration with stars like Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan was fulfilling.
Yewalekar's journey shows a natural evolution in his career.

Mumbai, April 24 (NationPress) As Akshay Kumar's "Kesari Chapter 2" premiered on April 18, the period drama's hair designer, Darshan Yewalekar, expressed his satisfaction in seeing his work acknowledged.

Yewalekar noted that period films come with unique challenges, yet they are immensely rewarding. “The characters truly felt like they belonged to the era depicted in the film,” he stated.

He disclosed that one of the most challenging looks he had to create for "Kesari Chapter 2" was that of General Dyer. “We had a visual reference, but the actor arrived as a blank canvas. We needed to construct everything—the wig and moustache—from the ground up. He was based in London with limited time in India, so I traveled there for the look test. We had to achieve the perfect fit in one shot because adjustments would be impossible later. When Karan Johar and I conducted the test in London, we got most details right and only needed to refine a few aspects. The effort was worthwhile since that character needed to leave a mark,” shared the renowned hair designer.

He expressed gratitude for how Karan Johar involved him in every step and shared, “He paid equal attention to every actor, from Akshay Kumar to R Madhavan, Ananya Panday, Simon Paisley, and Regina Cassandra. For Madhavan Sir, we conducted three look tests just to finalize the beard color. I was on-site during Ananya's test, and her team executed the design excellently. Karan even flew me to the sets at times to ensure everything was proceeding as planned. That kind of support from a director is invaluable.”

Reflecting on his journey, Yewalekar mentioned, “After years with D Barbershop and a decade collaborating with Ranveer Singh, this ensemble work seems like a natural progression, creating looks that are rooted in character and history. I cherish every aspect of it.”

"Kesari Chapter 2" marks Darshan's second collaboration with Akshay this year, following "Sky Force". “Working with Akshay Sir has been a humbling experience. Despite his stature, he always makes you feel comfortable, listens to ideas, and provides gentle feedback. His humility, dedication, and punctuality are truly inspiring, and I eagerly anticipate future collaborations, including an upcoming project that I cannot disclose details about just yet,” he concluded.