Akshaye Khanna Remembers Going Bald at 19: "It Was Heartbreaking"

 

Actor Akshaye Khanna is receiving praise for his impressive performance as Aurangzeb in Chhaava. With all the buzz around his role, an old interview has popped up where he opened up about dealing with premature baldness at just 19 and how tough it was for him emotionally.

In a chat with Mid-Day, Akshaye shared, "It started happening so early, and it felt like a pianist losing his fingers. It was really hard. Until you come to grips with it, it keeps nagging at you. Just imagine waking up one day and realizing you can’t read the newspaper without glasses—it hits you hard."

He compared it to other professions, saying, "If you’re a sports player—like a cricketer or a footballer—and you suddenly need knee surgery, that could set you back for a year or two. For actors, looks are everything. Losing your hair at 19 or 20 is really tough; it can really mess with your head."

Even with these challenges early on, Akshaye Khanna built a solid name for himself, and he is known for his deep and diverse performances. In Chhaava, his take on Aurangzeb is both chilling and commanding, making sure the character is more than a typical villain.

Directed by Laxman Utekar, Chhaava stars Vicky Kaushal as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The film is in theaters now.