Face Off with Rahul Miranda

So, is this the Goa influence or was he always like this?

He moved to Goa a little over a year ago but he says he has, quot;always been a rebel. Though I have sobered down a bit now.quot; He stopped toeing the line after the 10th standard when he decided not to go to college. And hair was something which had always fascinated him. quot;Since I was Mario8217;s son, everyone was exclaiming, He8217;s becoming a barber!8217;. But I must give credit to my parents as they supported me completely and even sent me to England to learn hair cutting and styling.quot;

So how difficult was it shrugging off the hajam tag?

Life, says Rahul, has been good to him. Coming back to Mumbai, he joined Touch of Joy and pretty much ruled the roostfor a considerable part of the eight years he was there. There was advance booking for weeks as people wanted only Rahul. quot;I miss my old clients,quot; he says. And his old clients, it seems, missed him equally as some would fly down to Goa just to have their hair done by him.

A touching love affair. Why did he end it?

quot;We had to give up our lovely flat here for various reasons and I was getting a bit tired of the rat race too,quot; he sighs. Their village house in Goa, where the whole family 8212; mom, dad, brothers and dogs 8212; live in happy harmony, is beautiful. But after some time he found little beyond the picture-postcard prettiness of Goa. quot;It is very slow and besides there8217;s no place like Mumbai,quot; he says.

So is that what brought him back to the city?

No. Mumbai was just supposed to be a brief stopover en route to New York where he is going for a stint at Studio 5 8212; an avante garde salon on the 5th Avenue. But when he and his wife Megan went to Regal to watch Titanic, Rahul createdmore waves outside the theatre than the sinking ship did inside. Surrounded by delighted shrieks of Rahul, you are back!!8217;, he was forced by old clients to stay till he did their hair. quot;We got at least 30 appointments just out of that movie and we didn8217;t even buy tickets in black!quot; says Megan, shaking her head in amazement. That was in April, and the word spread like fire forcing him to extend his stay till the end of May.

This kind of appreciation must feel really good.

quot;Oh yes, I have been doing minimum eight clients everyday. We had to rent this room, buy new equipment and all I have been doing is cutting and colouring hair from morning till night.quot; Besides being privy to all the city gossip. quot;Yes, yes, I know all the gossip,quot; he laughs. quot;His clients spoil him a lot too. They are always getting him something or the other,quot; chips in Megan.

But she was a client too once, and she did more than just spoil him. When did they get married?

Two and a half years ago. quot;I met her on the chair,at the Touch of Joy,quot; says Rahul. quot;He proposed on Friday and we were married on Monday, it was so romantic,quot; smiles Megan. quot;And her dowry was her dog which had to be brought down from her house in New York as she refused to live without Christie. She is a blonde. Maybe I8217;ll do her hair,quot; jokes her husband.

How long do they plan to stay in New York?

Rahul will work at Studio 5 for six months 8212; a job he landed without even applying for it. quot;The woman who runs the place saw my hair-cut and asked me who8217;s done it because it was perfect. And she made an offer to Rahul which is very rare,quot; informs Megan. Rahul on his part is excited about learning more, quot;it will give me a boost,quot; he says.

And perhaps it will also be a spring board to having his own saloon soon?

quot;I want to have my own place in South Mumbai. But real estate is so expensive. Maybe I could save up enough money there to start a place here,quot; he says. That should be good news for his loyal legions who fly down to Goaregularly.

And what is Rahul, the ace coiffeur, most likely to say?

No, his advice is not to let your hair down but to experiment more with it. quot;Indian women have the best hair in the world. Though they are not so conservative any more, they should get more daring.quot;

And least likely to say?

quot;Chop it all off!quot;