When Akshaye Khanna spoke about going bald at 19: It's devastating, can mentally kill you

Akshaye Khanna, currently earning widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Aurangzeb in Chhaava, has found himself in the spotlight not just for his performance but also for a resurfaced interview where he opened up about a deeply personal struggle. In an old conversation with Mid-Day, the actor recalled the emotional turmoil he experienced upon losing his hair at just 19 years old.

The actor candidly compared the experience to a pianist losing his fingers, emphasizing how devastating it was for him at such a young age. “It started happening at such a young age, and it was like a pianist losing his fingers. It almost felt like that in those days. I mean, until you truly come to terms with it, it keeps bothering you,” he shared.

For someone in the film industry, where appearance plays a crucial role, this sudden change was even more difficult to accept. Akshaye explained that just as an athlete suffering a severe injury could see their career derailed, his hair loss deeply impacted him. “You might be a sportsman, a cricketer or a footballer, and realise that you might need knee surgery. So it’s heartbreaking, you might lose a year or two years of your career,” he said, drawing a parallel between the two experiences.

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Acknowledging how much an actor’s face matters in the entertainment industry, Akshaye admitted that this phase of his life was a challenging one. “Especially this part (face). I mean, this part (body) you can still cover it up or whatever. At 19-20, it’s devastating. It’s heartbreaking, and it can mentally kill you,” he added.