Celebrity hairstylist Aalim Hakim has taken a strong stand against toxic behaviour in the entertainment industry, announcing that he will no longer work with celebrities whose managers allegedly disrespect or mistreat creative professionals and crew members behind the scenes.
A Call for Respect
The hairstylist shared a powerful note on social media, calling out the growing culture of arrogance and rude behaviour towards people working behind the camera. Taking to Instagram, Aalim wrote, “We have decided to step away from working with actors whose teams disrespect, demean, or mistreat any creative professional or crew member. Because talent deserves dignity. Hard work deserves kindness. And every artist deserves respect.”
Industry Support
His statement quickly struck a chord with several members of the film industry, many of whom extended their support in the comments section. Actor Rajkummar Rao commented, “Absolutely sir. Respect and Equality two utmost important things.” Filmmaker Farah Khan reacted to the post and wrote, “Well done Aalim.” Gajraj Rao praised the hairstylist for speaking up and commented, “Huge respect for you, Aalim, for saying this out loud and clear.” Meanwhile, actor Arjun Kapoor shared, “With U on this @aalimhakim bhai.” Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar wrote, “Bang On,” while actress Chitrangda Singh commented, “AGREE!” Kajol reacted with raised hands emojis, while actors Bobby Deol, Arjun Rampal, Pulkit Samrat and Aparshakti Khurana also showed support through emojis and reactions.
Managers’ Behaviour Under Fire
Aalim further highlighted how many managers allegedly misbehave with crew members and creative professionals over issues that may not even be their fault. “It is heartbreaking to see managers speaking rudely, humiliating people, throwing attitude, or releasing frustration on innocent crew members — especially for mistakes that are not even theirs. Authority does not give anyone the right to disrespect another human being,” he wrote. The celebrity hairstylist also pointed out that actors are often unaware of how the behaviour of their teams impacts their public image and reputation. “The saddest part is... sometimes actors don’t even realise how badly their image, reputation, and energy are being damaged outside the vanity van because of the behaviour of the people representing them,” Aalim added.
Acknowledging Crew Sacrifices
Reflecting on the hard work and sacrifices made by technicians and crew members in the industry, Aalim wrote that many of them leave their homes before sunrise and work tirelessly to ensure actors look their best on screen. “Many of these artists leave their homes before sunrise. Stand for endless hours. Miss festivals, birthdays, families, sleep, and peace... Only to make sure the actor they work with looks and feels their absolute best,” he shared. The post has sparked a broader conversation about respect and dignity for all workers in the entertainment industry, with many calling for a change in the treatment of behind-the-scenes talent.
