Shahid

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BHUBANESWAR: It did not need Aamir Khan with electric shaver in hand to promote ‘Ghajini’ in the Millennium city. It needed only a handful of his die-hard fans to fan such hysteria over his latest release, an intense graphic revenge drama, that would linger in the minds for some time.

On Thursday, all roads led to the Brundaban cinema hall at around 11.00 am as no one could give a miss to the unique sight. Over a hundred heads, shaved to minute resemblance with the Ghajini haircut replete with the arching scars and the tattoos on the body, lined up at theatre for the first show of the release. Some struck poses for the onlookers a la Aamir Khan in the film.

Seated across rows in the balcony, they drew as much attention and applause from the audience, particularly in the beginning, interval and end, as the star himself.

Among the group was Rakesh Agarwal, a plus three first year student of Christ College, who spent about four hours at the queue on Wednesday evening, not for tickets but for getting the Ghajini haircut. ‘‘Since the time promos of the film began to be aired, I was pretty keen to get the haircut as my favourite star has sported. The body, the tattoos and the almost clean shaven pate is so cool’’, the son of a Pithapur-based businessman said.

Dipu, the youth from Jharkhand who studies here, had been equally eager, and had thought of getting the makeover just before the film release. In the nick of time, he came to know of the ‘Ghajini group’ being formed and jumped in.

The Ghajini Group is the brainchild of Ranihat-based Deba Sahoo, who proclaims himself to be the craziest fan of Aamir Khan. ‘‘The Ghajini look just bowled me over and I thought of mounting a movement to promote the look. Mobilising the youth couldn’t be more easy as the undercurrent was extremely strong. No sooner did I make my intentions public, the wave swept over,’’ he says.

Within hours of putting the banner ‘Join Ghajini Group’ in front of his shop and installing a barber to shave the heads in his backroom, the crowd poured in. ‘‘Last evening we got more than 70 youths, lining up for the haircut which went late into the night,’’ he said.

Most of the members of the group are in their teens and studying in colleges. The Group had bought 100 tickets for the first show in advance and were ready to pay for tickets for more, who came with the Ghajini haircut. All money spent from his pocket, Deba also provided for coke bottles for each member of his group. Coke!!! you know why!!!