28th March 1984, is the date my Dad Hakim Kairanvi left this earth. He was just 39 and I was 9 years old when he left us. My Dad will always be my Hero and inspiration. He was the one who was responsible for the changing trends in hairdressing in 1960s, 70s and early 80s. He had done hair for legends like Bruce Lee to Mohammad Ali when they came to India.
Dad was responsible for creating the iconic hairstyle of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and my dad’s last haircut before his death was also of Mr. Bachchan for the movie Mard. His clientele included who’s who of the film industry and icons from different walks of the world. He was at Hotel TAJ, Mumbai as a hairstylist and later started his salon by the name of HAKIM’S in the balcony of our house and all the actors used to come home for their haircuts. From Dilip Kumar to Sunil Dutt to Anil Kapoor to Bachchans all were his clients.
People loved him for his Golden heart and whatever he used to earn he used to spend on his friends n family and never believed in Savings. For my Dad, his friends and family were his priority and would do anything for his friends. When my father left us it was a big struggle for my Mom Zebunnisa to raise us as I was the eldest 9 years old with two younger sisters Tehzeeb and Tabeer of the age 6 & 3.
She raised us like Mother India. She took the scissors in her hand and started doing haircuts at home. Whatever money she used to collect she would save for our school fee and food. When I entered my college Mithibai I was confused about what I wanted to be in my life but then I decided at the age of 16 that I have to take the brand Hakim’s ahead from where my father left and I started my practice day & night in hairdressing. Many people who considered themselves cool used to make fun of me in college canteen that Aalim wanted to be a hajjam(Barber) but I never cared.
I added my name after Dad’s so the brand became HAKIM’S AALIM. I started with a single chair in the balcony in my house with a simple fan, basin & cutting chair. I took an Air-Conditioner on rent first and then I bought that on instalments, It was my first major buy and was so happy to be an owner of the air-conditioner. My college friends really helped me a lot in my journey and few companies from the fraternity who sponsored me to go abroad and be with some international hairdressers to learn from them.
My struggle will never end and will always do till my last breath. I knew it that I cannot take this name ahead alone so I started building a team of hairdressers under our brand and started teaching them about the quality of work. Today there is Hakim’s Aalim in various cities. For me, my father Hakim will always be my Hero. I just go back to all the press releases that he had collected.. Dad was in the newspapers and magazines all the time. When I read his interviews I realize that how visionary he was.
He always believed in one religion called Humanity and we all followed that path. Very rare you get to see a human like him. It’s my Dad’s 36th death anniversary but I will never let him die. Will keep him alive as a hairdresser and his belief in one religion Humanity. He always believed WE ALL ARE ONE UNDER SAME SKY.
Long Live Dad
- Aalim Hakim
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