The Indian film industry inspired many trendsetting hairstyles through the decades—here are the best ones

The Indian film industry has been an influential machine, to say the least. Its enigmatic and mammoth nature has given rise to various beauty and fashion trends that inspired a generation courtesy of our favourite celebrities.

When an idiosyncratic hairdo makes an appearance on the big screen it's not long before you see it everywhere—from your friend's faces back in the day to your social media feeds now. Think Sadhana Shivdasani bringing fringes onto the scene in the late '50s and Rani Mukherjee’s inspiring millions to opt for hairbands as their go-to hair accessories in the late ’90s, throughout the decades certain hairdos have been celebrated by many. Ahead, we take a walk down memory lane through the most celebrated hairstyles from the Indian film industry.

Sadhana’s fringe (1958)

Love in Simla is one of the Bollywood movies that changed the course of the Indian film industry, and Sadhana Shivdasani's iconic fringe haircut as Sonia is undoubtedly a reason why. Dubbed the Sadhana cut, her wispy bangs reflect the less is more philosophy. Inspired by Audrey Hepburn at the time, in the Indian cinematic industry the hairstyle is still referred to as Sadhana's.

Sharmila Tagore’s bouffant (1966)

Loud hair and exaggerated makeup seem to be the vibe of the '60s to make a statement. Sharmila Tagore added to this trend by sporting the bouffant which calls for hair to be styled in a manner made to stand out from the head in a rounded shape by piling it on top while letting some tresses flow freely along the sides, paired with dramatic winged bold eyeliner. This hairstyle was replicated across the industry with Waheeda Rahman and Saira Banu championing it too.

Dimple Kapadia’s layered blowout (1989)

The movie Ram Lakhan had everyone in the '90s swooning at Dimple Kapadia’s gorgeous hair. Styled in a bouncy layered blowout, her voluminous hairstyle caused a ripple effect of fans replicating it. This hairstyle makes for a mesmerising silhouette while cascading your hair elegantly around your shoulders. Glossy lips and pink hues were also having a moment back then.

Kajol’s short bob (1998)

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai has proven to be an all-time classic, influencing fashion and beauty choices all around in the late '90s and early ’00s. Kajol Devgn’s tomboy character, Anjali, styled her hair in an unconventional short bob that left millions of fans embodying the hairstyle for a fuss-free hairdo that brought more attention to their faces.

Rani Mukherjee’s hairbands (1999)

Another hairdo popularised by the movie Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is Rani Mukerji's hairbands as go-to hair accessories. Tina was a stylish persona who was on top of all fashion trends of the '90s and also popularised straight hair, sporting the hairstyle in many of her films along with strands of hair at the front.

Preity Zinta’s curls (2001)

In the movie Dil Chahta Hai, Preity Zinta made a case for embracing your natural hair texture encouraging fans to sport their curls in all their glory, while leaving other audiences to replicate the curls with the means of curling irons and other hacks. In 2023, it's refreshing to note that fans are completely embracing their natural hair textures, and we're all for it!

Some noteworthy hairdos that inspired hairdos globally:

The Monroe Bob (1947)

Audrey Hepburn's pixie cut (1953)

The Rachel Green Haircut (1994)

Also read:

How to rock a fringe like Anne Hathaway

Iconic beauty trends through the decades–from Zeenat Aman and Jean Harlow to Madhuri Dixit

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