New Delhi:
Ever since Saif Ali Khan’s first look as the Naga Sadhu for Laal Kaptaan unveiled fans cannot help but wonder if Saif’s look is plucked from Jonny Depp’s famous pirate look. With scruffy beard, worn-out British form and ashes smeared on his face, one can understand where the similarity between Depp’s pirate look and Saif’s Naga sadhu look comes into play. Darshan Yewalekar, who is behind Saif’s vagabond look however calls it a ‘mere coincidence’.
‘’There were a few places where he had to wear a bandana and on the set, we felt it may be close to Johnny Depp’s look. It’s a mere coincidence that the look is similar. But in today’s age even if I design something authentic, it will be found replicated with Hollywood or French cinema. Maybe Depp picked it up from naga sadhu because it goes well with his character brief — pirates also sport long hair and don’t shave! Honestly, when you see Laal Kaptaan, you’ll see he is a naga sadhu. Only because he has dreadlocks is he being compared to the Pirates of the Caribbean star,” says Darshan.
Talking further on Saif’s overall look Darshan Yewalekar said, “It was a challenge from day one. I had designed Ranveer Singh’s hair in Padmaavat and the movie was out when I was approached for Laal Kaptaan. I found it exciting to design Saif’s look as a naga sadhu,” he says, adding that director Navdeep Singh gave him a proper brief and vision of what he wanted.
“After the first narration, when I went to meet him, Navdeep gave me 46 folders with a lot of details in it. He was so well-prepared. He was sure of what he wanted and I incorporated his vision,” says Darshan.
“I prefer using real hair before molding it. I then add or subtract so that it blends in naturally. Saif was so patient with me. For the look test, it would take 30 minutes because we were not just pasting it, but arranging and aligning the hair and beard,” he explains.
Presumably set in the pre-Independence period where Saif Ali Khan takes on the role of a ruthless Naga sadhu assassin, the movie directed by Navdeep Singh, hit the big screens on October 18.
