Actor Raghubir Yadav underwent a striking physical transformation for his role as Baapji in ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’. The veteran actor shaved his head to play the powerful spiritual leader at the centre of the OTT courtroom crime drama, a decision that initially left him struggling to recognise himself. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Yadav opened up about becoming Baapji, the isolated atmosphere on the sets and how the transformation helped him internalise the character.
Raghubir Yadav on his tranformation in ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’
Raghubir Yadav has spent decades portraying a wide range of characters, but ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’ required him to move into considerably darker territory. The actor plays Sunil Chakosi, popularly known as Baapji, a powerful spiritual leader accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in the series. For the role, Yadav chose to shave his head rather than rely on a wig or prosthetic. The transformation was so drastic that his first reaction to seeing himself without hair was one of discomfort.“To be honest, when I saw myself for the first time without hair, I almost started hating myself,” he told India Today, before adding with a laugh, “As soon as I saw myself in that look, I was like, ‘bhai ab toh marr gaye (It’s the end now).”However, what initially unsettled the actor eventually became an important part of his process of finding Baapji. Yadav explained that removing his familiar appearance helped him distance himself from his own personality and surrender more completely to the character.“After I cut my hair, the personality that took over just helped me sail through. It helped me internalise my pain, and also helped me understand filmmaking better. I also understood how characters take over an actor on screen. While I had seen myself in the mirror, seeing it on the big screen at the trailer launch was such a different experience,” he said.For the veteran actor, the transformation was therefore not merely cosmetic. The change in his appearance became part of the psychological process of inhabiting a character who is significantly removed from the roles audiences have commonly associated with him.
Raghubir Yadav explains why he chose not to use a wig or prosthetic
Yadav also explained why he wanted the bald look to be achieved through an actual transformation rather than through prosthetics.According to the actor, wearing a wig could have remained a physical reminder that he was performing a character. He felt that actually undergoing the transformation made it easier to make Baapji feel real on screen.“If you had a wig, you’d always feel it, and thus it never becomes real. There is something fundamentally different about actually undergoing the transformation rather than simply putting on a prosthetic,” he said.The decision also meant that Yadav had to confront an appearance that was unfamiliar to him, something he ultimately incorporated into his performance.The physical transformation was accompanied by a different atmosphere on the sets of Hunkkaar. Yadav said the environment around the production also contributed to his immersion in Baapji.He contrasted it with the usual rhythm of film and television sets, where actors can take breaks, interact with each other and temporarily step outside their characters.“Actually, the set was completely different here. On other sets, you take a break, sit together and talk. But over here, because of how the character was, it felt isolated. And one also wants to soak into the emotions to deliver the best. But it was almost like being trapped in the character.”The experience, he suggested, made it difficult to simply switch off between takes, allowing the emotional atmosphere of the character to linger during filming.
Raghubir Yadav jokes about growing his hair back after ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’
The actor’s dramatic bald look also became a lighter topic during his conversation with India Today. When asked about the secret behind getting his hair to grow back, Yadav joked that he did not have a sponsor who could recommend a particular hair-care product. He instead recalled a more traditional remedy from his childhood, mentioning the use of mustard oil in his village.
What is ‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’ about?
‘Hunkkaar: The Roar’ is a six-episode courtroom crime drama created by Karan D Kapadia and Nitya Mehra. The series centres on Meenu Rawat, played by Aneet Padda, a 17-year-old who accuses the influential spiritual leader Baapji of sexual assault. The allegation sets a legal battle in motion, bringing the police, lawyers, media and Baapji’s extensive network of followers into the story. Fatima Sana Shaikh plays ACP Jasleen Singh Soin, the police officer investigating the case.The ensemble also includes Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Arjun Mathur, Ram Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma and Zoya Hussain. The series premiered on JioHotstar on September 25, 2026.
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