Bollywood superstar Salman Khan left fans and audiences surprised with a revelation on the latest episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show Season 3, streaming on Netflix. Appearing as the first guest of the season, which premiered on June 21, Salman opened up about one of the most talked-about aspects of his 2003 cult film Tere Naam - his long-haired look as Radhe Mohan.
In a moment that caught even host Kapil Sharma off guard, Salman disclosed that the iconic hairstyle wasn't just a random style choice but was in fact inspired by former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
"Ye jo Tere Naam ka jo look hai, woh actually inspired tha Abdul Kalam saab se aur uss dauran I think Rahul Roy ka bhi same hairstyle tha. I thought ki jo small town hero hota hai na, unke humesha lambe baal hotey hai. The yesteryear heroes all had long hair, toh waha se ye aaya tha," Salman said, drawing gasps and laughter from the audience.
Yes, you read that right. The man who portrayed a heartbroken, aggressive, small-town lover in Tere Naam borrowed his hairstyle inspiration from none other than APJ Abdul Kalam, the much-loved 'People's President,' known as much for his scientific achievements as for his distinctive appearance.
In the film, Salman played Radhe Mohan, a college rowdy with a soft heart, who falls obsessively in love. The long, middle-parted hairstyle became such a rage after the film’s release that it sparked a nationwide trend among young men in the early 2000s.
From college campuses to small towns, the 'Tere Naam look' turned into a youth fashion phenomenon, with thousands imitating the signature long hair and intense attitude. Salons across India reportedly received frequent requests for 'Radhe-style' haircuts, marking a rare moment when a film character's look spilled into pop culture in a massive way.
