Of star cuts: Perry makes merry

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sheetal

@sheetald

Rocker

Posted: 19 years ago

Perry Patel with Akshay Kumar

Bollywood and television's favourite hair-stylist Perry Patel is set to open a hair academy, affiliated to the World Federation of Supreme Hairdressers, in Juhu, making it mandatory for upcoming salons to seek a diploma certificate from him.

Everybody wants me. But I want to create many Perrys. It's time to give back something to the country. I will put my best foot forward in this respect."

Grandma's pet?

Parimal Patel (his real name) has come a long way. He rewinds, "While in school in Mombasa (Kenya), I would bunk classes and spend hours at Kenya's best-known School of Hair Design owned by my godmother Salma Palmer. I'd keenly observe the lady cutting and styling hair of the country's best-known names. And then, I trained at two of the world's finest schools — Vidal Sasoon and HQ Hairstyling, both in London."

Africa to India

Perry Patel and Kareena Kapoor

Hairstyling runs not in his genes but in his eyes. "The moment I see a person, especially his face cut, I sense a pattern that would suit him/her best.

A haircut must compliment the face," says Perry, who first made a name for himself in Africa and then England, leaving behind a long list of satisfied clients.

Hema was unhappy

Any blunders while styling a celebrity? "I don't know whether to call it a blunder. Hema Malini wasn't happy with the cut I gave her. We re-did the whole thing."

Perry ka raaz

The secret of his success? "It's hard work, and of course, Bollywood stars' and starlets' trust in me, without which I may not have been here. I started this just four years ago. Touch wood."

Akki connection

Akshay Kumar is a one of his favourite clients. Perry reminisces, "It started when I did Akki's new look for the Thums Up ad. Since then, all his looks and styles in different movies and advertisements have been done by me."

Aroma with Alka

Apart from Makeover (Bandra), Perry is the hairstylist at Aroma Gardens, run by Akshay's sister, Alka.

Perry's Best

Best short hair: Akshay Kumar.
Best long hair: John Abraham.
Best bouncy hair: Shahid Kapoor.
Best straight hair: Celina Jaitley.
Best blonde: Kareena Kapoor

Perry's famous looks

1. Akshay Kumar's short highlighted hair and bleached beard in Bewafaa.
2. Hrithik Roshan's three looks in Krrish.
3. Sushmita Sen in Karma Confessions and Holi
4. Esha Deol's red highlights in Kaal and blonde curls in Dhoom.

Perry says

All time favourite: Dimple Kapadia. She's one of the few leading ladies who's got the most beautiful hair to work on.
Most enjoyable moment: Working with Esha Deol for Dhoom because she was open to experiments.
Dying to work with: Aishwarya Rai.
Favourite client: Hema Malini.
Toughest haircut: Manoj Bajpai.
TV clients: Urvashi Dholakia, Chetan Hansraj, Gautam Rode, Pravin Siroi, Chaitanya, Karisma Tanna, Rakshanda Khan, Moulli Ganguly, Gurpreet Singh, Samir Soni.