Javed Habib Opens Up About His Grandfather's Legacy
Celebrity hairstylist Javed Habib, known for styling stars like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, has shared fascinating details about his family's history. In a recent interview, he revealed that his grandfather, Nazir Ahmed, was a professional barber who worked at the President's house and once served Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.
Grandfather's Journey at Rashtrapati Bhavan
Speaking with The Lallantop, Javed recounted how his grandfather began working at Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1935, when it was still known as the Governor's House. He was employed in the night department and cut hair for everyone at the residence. Javed shared, "My grandfather started working at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1935. It was called the governor's house at that time. He got a job in the night department. So whoever came there, used to get their hair cut from him. Sabki gardan mere dada ke saamne jhukti thi (Everyone had to bow their head in front of my grandfather). He stayed there till 1972, I was born there only. I used to see him going there on a cycle everyday. He used to have a box – with a razor, scissors, and towel. He used to keep it very clean. I still have those memories of my grandfather in my mind."
Javed further explained that his grandfather was the first in their family to take up hairdressing, while his father worked in a small salon. His great-grandfather never worked as a barber.
Memories of Gandhi and Nehru
Javed also shared that his grandfather cut the hair of both Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. He said, "He has cut Mahatma Gandhi's hair as well. He had hair at one point of time in life. We have a very strong history. My grandfather told my father that he had a lot of hair and he cut it. Nehru sahab was his regular client. He used to shave as well, and came in weekly. He had very little hair."
Adding a personal anecdote, Javed recalled, "I remember one incident when Nehru sahab was going to Russia. So, he asked my grandfather if he wanted something from there. He told him that he doesn't have a watch. He got a watch as a gift for my grandfather, he fulfilled such a small wish of his barber. He was so much concerned. Status wasn't important at that time, everyone was friends with each other."
Father's Different Path
The hairstylist also discussed his father's decision to decline a job at Rashtrapati Bhavan after his grandfather's retirement. Instead, his father pursued bigger dreams, going to London with sponsorship from Lord Mountbatten. Javed noted, "My father didn't work there, but he was getting a job at Rashtrapati Bhavan, after my grandfather's retirement. But, my father refused that offer because he had other dreams. He went to London, and it was sponsored by Lord Mountbatten. He supported so much, and maybe that was the foundation for all of us while growing up. He did a hairdressing course there for a year and then joined the Oberoi Group."
Javed Habib's reflections offer a glimpse into a rich family legacy intertwined with India's history.
