Salim Pradhan like many of us, had a very hard life growing up. His parents worked as labourers - in Patharjhora tea garden in Dooars. Unable to support his expenses, his parents were forced to send Salim to work in Bangalore at the tender age of 12. Today he is the favourite hairdresser for some of the players in the Indian cricket team and Mumbai’s film stars.
His is a story of hard work, perseverance, sincerity and dedication.
Salim, initially worked in the salons of Bangalore as a cleaner and gradually learned the art of hairdressing by watching experts at work. His lucky break came the day when a salon owner asked him to use a pair of scissors to dress a customer’s hair. Everybody present was amazed by Salim’s talent as he went about working with the finesse of an expert.
Gradually, Salim started earning a name for himself in Bangalore as a good hairdresser, and he says he started his career from the city’s famed White Mantra Saloon. His talent was soon recognised by leading salons across the country and he received work offers from several of them.
The Dooars’ lad was then hired by Bollywood actor-director Sohail Khan, the brother superstar Salman Khan, to work at his salon named ‘Khalistha’ at Bandra, Mumbai that was being run in partnership with Bollywood’s famous fashion designer Manik Soni.
Salim says he got the opportunity to dress cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Murali Vijay and S Sreesanth, and film stars such as Salman Khan, Ritesh Deshmukh and Sunny Leone, among many others. He does not even recall the entire list of his regular customers, who are film critics, sports personalities and politicians.
But he fondly remembers Murali Vijay as he always praised and encouraged him to take his profession to new heights.
Murali used to say, “Tere hath me jadoo hai yaar” (You wield magic with your hands, my friend), recalls Salim.
Having experienced the glitter and glamour of city life, Salim has now decided to settle down back in his own native place. He has struck a deal with Sushma Rai Mukhia of Mirik to open a salon in Siliguri. The partners today opened their ‘Attraction’ in town amid much fanfare. A beaming Sushma says working with Salim will help her a lot in understanding new techniques to satisfy customers.
TheDC team offers our humble salutations to Salim, and wishes him luck in his endeavour.
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| Salim Pradhan with Youvraj Singh |
Salim, initially worked in the salons of Bangalore as a cleaner and gradually learned the art of hairdressing by watching experts at work. His lucky break came the day when a salon owner asked him to use a pair of scissors to dress a customer’s hair. Everybody present was amazed by Salim’s talent as he went about working with the finesse of an expert.
Gradually, Salim started earning a name for himself in Bangalore as a good hairdresser, and he says he started his career from the city’s famed White Mantra Saloon. His talent was soon recognised by leading salons across the country and he received work offers from several of them.
The Dooars’ lad was then hired by Bollywood actor-director Sohail Khan, the brother superstar Salman Khan, to work at his salon named ‘Khalistha’ at Bandra, Mumbai that was being run in partnership with Bollywood’s famous fashion designer Manik Soni.
Salim says he got the opportunity to dress cricketers Yuvraj Singh, Murali Vijay and S Sreesanth, and film stars such as Salman Khan, Ritesh Deshmukh and Sunny Leone, among many others. He does not even recall the entire list of his regular customers, who are film critics, sports personalities and politicians.
But he fondly remembers Murali Vijay as he always praised and encouraged him to take his profession to new heights.
Murali used to say, “Tere hath me jadoo hai yaar” (You wield magic with your hands, my friend), recalls Salim.
Having experienced the glitter and glamour of city life, Salim has now decided to settle down back in his own native place. He has struck a deal with Sushma Rai Mukhia of Mirik to open a salon in Siliguri. The partners today opened their ‘Attraction’ in town amid much fanfare. A beaming Sushma says working with Salim will help her a lot in understanding new techniques to satisfy customers.
TheDC team offers our humble salutations to Salim, and wishes him luck in his endeavour.
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