APJ Abdul Kalam inspired Salman Khan’s iconic ‘Tere Naam’ hairstyle: Here’s the proof of how much the actor admired India’s Missile Man

Salman Khan’s look in the 2003 film ‘Tere Naam’ sparked a fashion wave across India. His long, middle-parted hair became so popular that fans rushed to salons to copy it. But years after the film’s release, the actor finally revealed the real inspiration behind the famous hairstyle – and it wasn’t what anyone expected.

Inspired by the Missile Man of India

In a surprising confession, Salman Khan said that the look from ‘Tere Naam’ was actually inspired by India’s former President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. During his appearance on the first episode of ‘The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show Season 3’, Salman spoke to host Kapil Sharma and said, “Ye ‘Tere Naam’ ka jo look hai, woh actually inspired tha Abdul Kalam saab se.”

He added that actor Rahul Roy also had a similar hairstyle in one of his films. But for ‘Tere Naam’, Salman thought the long hair fit the image of a small-town hero. He explained, “I thought that small-town heroes always had long hair. All the old-school heroes had it too – that’s where the inspiration came from.”


Salman’s Deep respect for Dr. Kalam

Salman’s connection with Dr Kalam went beyond just hairstyle. In 2015, after the passing of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Salman shared a series of heartfelt tweets expressing his admiration. He wrote, “I will miss Kalam saab. India will miss him.”

Calling him a role model, Salman also tweeted, “Kalam saab was an amazing teacher and in his last tweet he said he is on his way to IIM... as scientist and as President, Kalam saab was a true inspiration for many generations of Indians.”




In another emotional tweet, Salman shared his regret of never meeting Kalam, “When your heart says you should meet someone, don't delay. I always wanted to meet Kalam saab and I should have made the effort. My loss.”

Salman’s choice to style his hair after Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was not just a creative decision but a quiet tribute to someone he deeply admired. The look may have been trendy, but now we know it came from a place of genuine respect.