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If you thought Bollywood's male heartthrobs looked hottest with their freshly scrubbed clean good looks, think again. Mouches teamed with a hint of evening stubble is the look of the season.

Ever since Shah Rukh Khan flaunted his designer stubble in Chak De! India, there have been many stubbled followers -- Akshay Kumar, Kunal Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Shabbir Ahluwalia, Himesh Reshammiya, Aashish Chowdry, Arshad Warsi, Suniel Shetty, Emraan Hashmi and Aftab Shivdasani. Even debutants like Sikandar (Woodstock Villa), Neil Nitin Mukesh (Johnny Gaddaar) and Adhyayan Suman (Haal-e-dil) seem to have adapted the bearded look. It seems the Hindi film fraternity now believes in reel life, men can turn heads when they look macho and not like a chocolate cream boy next-door.

So, does that mean that the metrosexual look is out (at least in films) and we'll have to make do with these 'bearded' superstars? Hairstylist Aalim Hakim believes that "the masculine look is in for now. Actors don't have to look cute, men can look hot and sexy even with a stubble. Anil Kapoor tried the stubbled look years ago in Jaanbaaz and even now women swoon over a stubbled hero. I think a stubbled look oozes raw sex appeal." Hakim has been the man who's given the 'bearded' look to Vivek Oberoi, Saif Ali Khan and Anil Kapoor in recent times.

Agrees actor Aashish Chowdhry, who's also sporting a stubble in a new film, "Actors are playing characters which makes them experiment with different looks. The bearded look is also 'designed' and I'd say it also defines the metrosexual man well."
Neil Nitin Mukesh feels men can look different only by trying out different haircuts and sporting a beard or a mouche. "Let's face it, women like men to look macho. Times are changing and so are the genres of the movies. A bearded look also creates quite an impression on the audience. There is no harm in wearing a beard and going places in life," he feels.

Make-up artist Cory Walia feels that it is important to get the bearded look right. "The unshaved look was first introduced by art house actors who did it to give a serious look to the character. Today, a bearded look works well if you want either an Indian or an international look and is just right for casual and formal outfits as well," says Walia. Actor, Aftab Shivdasani feels that "the trend is not new and a lot depends on the on-screen character one has to essay. The stubble is just the way of presenting a strong character."

And as long as the 'bearded' look continues to win hearts and make a fashion statement of its own, none of our Bollywood dreamboats are going to mind a trip to the latest stylist!