Step out in style with a sexy stubble

Forget all the jazz about being metrosexual and freshly scrubbed and clean shaven. It is the thin line of fuzz on the jaw line that separate the men from the boys. Facial hair has never been so hot. And Bollywood’s leading men are flaunting this look in all their bearded glory. From Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan at the IIFA awards to Neil Nitin Mukesh and Saif Ali Khan, everyone is sporting a sexy stubble.

Actor Aashish Chowdhry who is a big fan of the “five-o-clock shadow”, says, “A slight stubble not only makes you look macho, but also gives you a strong edge. Chocolate boys may appeal to teenagers, but it is the Bollywood hero with the stubble that impresses all the ladies,” quips the actor who is always spotted with a stubble himself.

Actor Rajeev Khandelwal, who is known for his chocolate boy looks, says, it is the beard that makes him feel like a “man”. “I’ve always been touted as the cute boy by everyone. And to change that image, I started sporting a beard. It worked wonders for me. Facial hair if maintained well can take away the boyish quality from the face and make you look intense. Now I’m a big fan of this look. And if I ever want to get back to that chocolate look, all I need to do is shave,” he says.

While the sexy stubble is sure to make a guy a hit with the ladies, for some actors, it is an integral part of their look. Actor Kunal Kapoor, known for his rugged look, says, “My style quotient is casual and laidback. The beard and the moustache gives me an edgy look and I like to keep it that way. In fact, directors who have cast me have forbidden me from shaving. It’s almost like it’s my beard that’s getting me the roles,” he quips.

Make-up artist Cory Walia couldn’t agree more. “It is important to get the bearded look right. The clean look may have been associated only with artsy actors to give a serious look to the character. But the stubble has almost become a must even for Bollywood’s leading men to give them that brooding, intense edge. And the best part is that it suits both causal and formal outfits,” he says.