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This is an archive article published on August 4, 2017

No Country for Bald Men

A play on the travails of a ganja in India will have its Delhi premiere this weekend

bald men news, art and culture news, lifestyle news, indian express news Ashique Hussain (above); Creative Producer Ashwath Bhatt

Salman Khan, Himesh Reshammiya and Saurav Ganguly have something in common — they are all rumoured to have had hair transplants — that is not shared by actor Ashique Hussain. He is a “100 per cent shuddh ganja” as he says in Shaadi Kara Do Baba, a play about the adventure of a man with a shining top. A solo by Hussain, the play has been produced in collaboration with Ashwath Bhatt of the Theatre Garage Project. “It is a marriage of stand-up and theatre, with a hilarious script. Only after the show do you see the undercurrents of a tragedy. We have talked to many people who have said, because of not having hair, they have lost all confidence,” says Bhatt, the Creative Producer. Shaadi Kara Do Baba will have its Delhi premiere at the Alliance Francaise on August 5. Excerpts from an interview with Bhatt:

Indian women don’t find bald men hot: We thought of this play when Ashique and I were studying in London and he had a breakup. Hollywood has Bruce Willis and Vin Diesel, bald stars with huge fan bases, but, in India, a hero cannot be ganja. Ask Salman Khan. There’s another side of the coin, when girls think baldness means wisdom.

And then, there’s Anupam Kher: The play includes five songs, performed live, which includes Ye mere bichhre baalo composed by Anupam Kher.

From Virat Kohli to the vendor of puran poli: Everybody has a signature haircut. In the play, we discuss the Buzz Cut, the Mullet cut and the Pompadour. The Indian cricket captain has the Undercut. There used to be the Rat Tail, inspired by the thin braid that hung down the back of the neck.

It’s lonely on top: In the play, nobody wants to be friends with our hero. The pretty girl from office will have tea with the chaprasi but not even talk to him. The matrimonial proposals his parents send out come back with one reply, “But he’s bald.” When all else fails, the protagonist turns to a baba.

A hair-raising prediction: In future, nobody will be bald. The hair transplant industry is pegged at multi-billion dollars and is growing by the day. Soon, parents will set aside funds and take out insurance policies for the future of their children’s hair.

It happens to women too: Baldness in women is quite another issue, and a very serious one involving gender discrimination. We don’t touch upon that in this play.

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One to one: The hour-long play is designed as a direct monologue with the audience. Ashique essays almost eight characters and sings. There is a lot of farce to break the realism but humour dominates the narrative.

 

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More


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