"I am not ready to break the beard yet."
South Asia is known for its film industry, especially as it releases movies in many different languages. With all these films come hundreds of different leading men. Some have Desi beards and some do not.
Outside of South Asia, famous Desi men and their beards can be seen in the sporting world, in Hollywood, and even in stand-up comedy. Facial hair is not easy to maintain, however.
These men have eyes on them wherever they go so they have to ensure their beards and moustaches are looking on point at all times. Some of them succeed and some of them do not.
The men on this list know how to style their beards. They know how to trim them to suit their face shape and they know how important it is to wash and oil them.
They never leave the house without their trusted beard brush and that’s why these men are the ones who made the list of the 12 Best Beards in Bollywood and Beyond.
Aditya Roy Kapur
Aditya Roy Kapur has quickly made himself one of the top names when it comes to the leading men in Bollywood. He regularly wears a beard for many of his roles and he always mixes it up.
Whether he is playing around with different lengths or designs, he is heavily creative. This creativity is key when it comes to adding structure and depth to the beard.
Aditya even posted a photo on Instagram where he said:
“Grooming your beard is an art. It requires the right set of precision tools and quality care products.”
The talented actor manages to utilise his beard growth by sporting both stubble and fuller looks. It showcases how men can also keep their appearance fresh by manipulating their beard style.
One of Aditya’s go-to 2021 looks is connecting his beard to his hairstyle without a drastic fade which men often do.
The actor pulls it off by making sure the side length is slightly shorter than the rest of his beard. This means that although the overall beard is fuller, Aditya maintains a chiselled aesthetic to his face.
Aditya also showed off this look in his movie Malang (2020) but it was shorter at the front. He is definitely one of the most versatile and trendiest when it comes to his Desi beard.
Emraan Hashmi
Some men know they just look better with facial hair and actor Emraan Hashmi is one of them. He is rarely seen without a beard and doesn’t need to be.
He showed off his well-groomed look in his blockbuster film, The Body (2019), which also starred Bollywood legend, Rishi Kapoor.
For most of his career, Emraan has maintained the same shape and design of his beard.
The sides are quite short, with a longer length on the chin and moustache, imitating a stylish goatee look.
Although Emraan experiments with his beard for different roles, he remains an advocate for keeping a style that suits your face shape.
Desi men with a more triangular face shape can benefit from a similar design. A considerably shorter length on the sides compared to a fuller goatee gives a more sculpted look.
If you find a style that suits you well and that you like, then keep it. That’s what Emraan has done and that’s why he has one of the best Desi beards in Bollywood.
Shahid Kapoor
Shahid Kapoor is one of the top actors in Bollywood and as well as that, he has one of the best beards. Although he entered the industry clean-shaven, his appearance has since changed.
In his blockbuster movie Kabir Singh (2019) alone, he showed off two styles that were drastically different. For the first half of the movie, he sported a slightly scruffy look, although still neat.
In the second half, he had a very full, bushy beard, which of course takes a while to grow to the desired length. Given Shahid’s athleticism, he has quite a slim jawline.
This means that even with an untamed and thicker beard, it does not round out his face. So for those men who love a workout and have a more defined face shape, a fuller beard may be a look to experiment with.
Another of Shahid’s iconic looks came in the film Padmaavat (2018). He had joked about how much trouble the moustache had given, stating:
“It just keeps drooping downwards! It wasn’t easy at all. We should have more men’s grooming lines!”
Always willing to put in the extra work to look good on screen, Shahid deserves his place on this list.
Ayushmann Khurrana
Similar to Aditya Kapur, Ayushmann Khurrana likes to experiment with different beard lengths, often sporting a tamed stubble look.
However, for his upcoming 2021 movie, Anek, he has unveiled a new boxed beard, leaving some facial hair to grow around the neck – something men should avoid for a clean-cut look.
Undoubtedly this is due to Ayushmann’s leading role in the movie as a rugged hero.
The actor has stated in the past that he feels naked without his beard. He has been seen clean-shaven but there’s just something stylish and dapper about him with a beard.
In fact, Ayushmann is so in love with all things grooming, he invested in The Man Company, a premium men’s grooming business, and is also their brand ambassador.
This is vital for men who wish to have a healthy-looking beard. High-quality oils and serums are vital in producing a glimmering and robust beard, no matter if the style is stubble or thick.
The men’s grooming market is ever-expanding, especially in India. With more Desi men embracing their beards, Ayushmann leads by example to how men should care and be proud of their beards.
Ranveer Singh
Ranveer Singh is certainly one of the most famous when it comes to talking about Desi beards. From a stubble look in Gully Boy (2019) to a full beard in Padmaavat (2018), he has sported many incredible styles.
With the full beard, he donned a fully grown moustache, curled upwards at the ends for a more experimental look.
The actor has also been seen with a mix of a moustache disappearing into stubble. Being one of the most fashionable actors in Bollywood, his facial hair definitely lives up to his vibrant flair.
In Bajirao Mastani (2015), Ranveer went with a handlebar moustache and in Simmba (2018) he only had a moustache but it was still precisely designed with beard oil.
Given Ranveer’s rollercoaster styles, his personal hairstylist, Darshan Yewalekar, has spoken of how important patience is when maintaining your own beard:
“Patience is key in the entire process.
“Also, I have discovered this amazing shampoo that keeps my beard healthy and shiny.”
He continued to advisee:
“During peak winter — when the weather is dry, I add a beard oil to my routine.”
For those with inconsistent growth, Ranveer is a catalyst on how grooming and using detailing tools like oils and combs can help you achieve a distinctive look.
Ranveer mixes up his beard style as often as he mixes up his fashion sense, which is why he has one of the best Desi beards.
Akshay Kumar
Fans have been eagerly waiting for Akshay Kumar’s movie Bachchan Pandey, which is expected for release in 2022. When photos of his look from the movie were released in 2020, everyone was impressed.
In the pictures, he sports a long beard that is trimmed into a sharp point. For men with a fuller or rounder face, they can take a great deal of influence from Akshay here.
Grooming your beard with a lower grade on the sides which gradually fades into a longer length nearer the chin and neck, will give the illusion of a leaner face.
Clean up the lower neck and high cheek areas to achieve an impeccable beard.
Akshay also has a nice, thick moustache which he sports. Of course, this isn’t the first time the actor’s beard has been noticed.
In his movie Gabbar (2015), he has a long and dense beard that would have taken some time to grow. He also wears his hair slightly longer than normal which went well with the beard.
When not shooting, Akshay is seen with a grey beard. He may have been in the industry for over 25 years but he is not slowing down when it comes to his strong beard game.
Anil Kapoor
Anil Kapoor is a veteran actor of Bollywood and one of his prominent features is his beard. When he entered the industry, he only sported a moustache but now is always seen with a beard.
As with Akshay Kumar, Anil is often seen with a grey beard but dyes it black as well.
The salt-and-pepper beard game is seen with a few actors but only Anil can apply his personal style to the look.
In 2021, at an airport, he put his own twist on the classic look. His handlebar moustache was all black whilst the hair on his chin was white. The hair on his cheeks was also black.
His specific style illustrates how you can embrace the different elements of your beard and still look dapper.
Grasp those grey hairs and jazz them up into a refined look which many deem as a modern style for older guys.
It created a truly impressive contrast that one may even call “Jhakaas”.
Vicky Kaushal
Vicky Kaushal has quickly made a name for himself in Bollywood, not only for his excellent acting but for his good looks as well. One of his best features is his facial hair.
In his film Manmarziyaan (2018), he stood out for his colourful hairstyle but his beard is also worth noting. He kept it very trimmed and neat, cut into a goatee style.
A goatee-type beard is easy to maintain as it only requires a light trim every few days. Even when starting to grow out, the slight stubble will add substance to your look.
For his role in Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), Vicky’s beard was a lot fuller, denser, and longer around the jawline. Either way, he wore both looks well.
Vicky’s main styling technique is keeping his beard maintained. Scissors, a trimmer, and a beard comb are your best friends when it comes to grooming.
Therefore, caring for your cheeks, neck, and moustache will not only keep you looking fresh but also help preserve the health of your beard.
Those are the top picks of the best Desi beards in Bollywood, but now let’s take a look at the others. There are plenty of Desi men all over the world who deserve a mention.
Dev Patel
Dev Patel is a British actor who has made it big in Hollywood with films like Slumdog Millionaire (2008). Both his acting and his beard have come a long way since then.
His beard may be a little patchy but he knows just how to trim and tame it to keep it looking on point. He also has a very thick moustache which adds to his look.
Dev tends to grow his hair on his chin, as opposed to the sides of his face, giving him a goatee. He doesn’t connect this to his cheek hair as he keeps them clean-shaven.
This is quite important for men who struggle to grow a beard that connects.
Trying to force the patch’s of facial hair can be detrimental to your overall look.
Instead, try keeping the fuller parts of your beard and experiment with styles that correspond with your natural length and hair type.
In addition, as Dev sports a longer hairstyle, his chosen beard style enhances his overall presentation as each element intertwines and is uniform.
With all that and his prominent sideburns, Dev may have one of the best Desi beards in Hollywood.
Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is not only known for being the captain of India’s cricket team but he is also known for his fantastic beard. It is always sharp and symmetrical as well as thick.
For his look, he incorporates the goatee, the horseshoe moustache, and the full beard. He also has amazingly symmetrical sideburns.
Keeping your beard well-proportioned will keep your looking presentable whilst also complimenting the features of your face too.
Virat loves his beard so much he did not take part in Ravindra Jadeja’s #breakingthebeard challenge, jokingly expressing:
“Sorry boys, but I am not ready to break the beard yet. Great job on the makeovers though. Kudos.”
When it looks that good, there’s no blaming Virat for wanting to keep his pristine beard.
Parmish Verma
Parmish Verma is known for his Punjabi movies and his singing and very much so for his trademark beard. His beard may just be the neatest Desi beard of them all.
He hasn’t changed his look drastically over the years and doesn’t really need to. He keeps a very full, thick beard that he trims to just below his chin.
His moustache is also very thick and long and he tends to keep it curled upwards at the ends in true Punjabi style.
He also shaves the side of his head above the sideburns.
This makes his beard stand out and look even more crisp and neat.
For those with a similar beard means grooming is a breeze. A quick shave along the neckline and upper cheek will already tidy your beard and give it some welcomed definition.
Parmish is going from strength to strength in the Punjabi film industry and his Desi beard is along for the ride.
Paul Chowdhry
Paul Chowdhry is not only one of the best Desi standup comedians but he also has one of the greatest beards. Long, thick, and luscious are the only words that can describe it.
This is the kind of beard that needs serious grooming and Paul obviously keeps on top of it. Always neat, brushed, and well oiled, he completes with a magnificent handlebar moustache.
Paul’s beard compiles the majority of grooming techniques.
Keeping his sides slightly shorter, trimming his neckline, curling his moustache, and defining the beard into a pointed style results in a brash and bold style.
Paul’s beard is the true epitome of how caring for your beard with the appropriate products can intensify the beauty of your facial hair.
So, it is important for men to groom their beards the same way they would their hairstyles and bodies.
People may love to laugh at his jokes but one thing they won’t be laughing at is his beard.
Bollywood’s leading men from Aditya and Ranveer, to Shahid and Emraan, certainly lead the way for impeccable Desi beards.
Even so, there are Desi men in Hollywood, sports, and even in comedy, that hold their own pretty well. The important thing is these men take pride in their appearance.
They know how important the beard is, how it can symbolise power and strength, as well as making them look good. It is certainly a great inspiration for anyone looking to jazz up their beard style.
These men all deserve to be applauded for their fantastic Desi beards so take note of these looks and don’t be afraid to try them out for yourself
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