WE all love Akshay Kumar, don’t we? Whether, it’s his comic antics, daring stunts or his ravishing new avtars. This time too, the Khiladi dons a new look with unmatched gusto. Akshay plays a Sikh in his upcoming movie Singh is Kinng. And he does look a very Happy Singh with his turban and trimmed beard. And you bet, Akki has triggered off a new trend of turbans that has found acceptance with Sikh boys who had earlier cut their hair to look cool.

Here, take it from the man himself, Akshay Kumar: “I had worn a turban before for my album Nirgun Laakh Leeya. But now, I must say that it has become a part of my identity, so much so, that I feel incomplete when I am not wearing it.” Not to mention that he looks dashing in those fluorescent, peacock blue, off-white and Irani pink pagdi.

Not only Akshay, the film required some of the cast to sport the pagdi. And they all made quite an effort to make it look authentic. Akshay Kumar approached the head of the Sikh community in Melbourne and requested him to tie it for him. Even Vipul Shah, director of Singh is Kinng went to the extent of inviting the heads of prominent gurdwaras of Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide to visit the sets and approve Akshay’s look. And the entire gang of Akshay’s friends — Sonu Sood, Ranveer Shorey, Om Puri, Javed Jaffrey and Sudhanshu Pandey, got their pagdi tied by the Sikh representatives.

Sonu Sood, whose film Ek Vivah Aisa Bhi will hit theatres on November 7, and who plays the ‘King’ in Singh is King shares his experience. “Before shooting, I had send my pictures in a turban to Anees Bazmi and he liked them a lot.” Shahid Amir, who has designed the turbans for Sonu, has used uncommon colours and studs to make it attractive. “My Sikh friends in Punjab think that they cannot make it to films due to their turban. Now they are proven wrong.” As per Sonu, who shot to fame with Aashiq Banaaya Apney, “Wearing turban was a great experience. I had to wear it for 50 days at a stretch. Now, when I don’t have to wear it I feel as if something is missing.”

The cast has certainly set a trend among the city youth.

“Sikhs have always been presented in a ridiculed light in Hindi films. Akshay Kumar as a smart turban-wearing Sardar will certainly change the image of the Sikh,” feels Ajay Mattu, who is preparing for the Civil Service examinations. “And he has carried it so well. I feel like tying a turban myself,” he smiles. The colours too fascinate some. Says Mandeep Bhullar, “Akshay is wearing bold colours like pink, yellow and peacock blue. I am sure many young Sikhs will start wearing these colours now.”

And Akki as a Sikh has generated quite a talk among his fans. Chips in Samiksha Sharma, an arts student from GCG -11, “Everyone’s talking about Akki’s new look. I am too captivated by his turbans. I am sure many young Sikh boys will now return to tying turbans. In fact, one of my friend is already doing it.” Samiksha’s friend Harman Brar has already bought a pink and white pagri.

As for Simarjyot Sandhu, a homemaker from Mohali, who has been coaxing her 28-year- old-son Satbir to wear a turban, is a happy mom. “I was surprised when Satbir walked in a blue turban the other day. He told me Akshay Kumar’s new look inspired him. Chalo jithoon wi inspire hoya hovey, pagdi taa bannani shuru kiti Satbir ney,” Simarjyot tells us with a glint in her eyes.

jasmine@tribunemail.com