Hairdresser who cut Bollywood stars' hair opens salon in Alice Springs
Nishant Mahendru, who worked with Bollywood stars in Mumbai, opened a salon in Alice Springs after a holiday.
Nishant Mahendru stepped out of Alice Springs Airport expecting danger. Locals welcomed him warmly instead.
Mahendru had come for a two-week holiday from his life in Mumbai, where he had cut the hair of Bollywood actors Sunny and Bobby Deol and Indian cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. After years in luxury, five-star hotels and chartered planes, he felt burnt out.
He had been granted a Skilled Regional visa in August 2019, just before the program closed. Alice Springs' spiritual energy drew him in.
He borrowed money from friends and took over a local hair salon lease. Why Not by Nish was born, now known for playing local Indigenous artists' music and welcoming diverse clients.
Alice Springs' migrant population includes people from 72 cultural groups, with Indians at 20 to 25 per cent of migrants.
- Sunny and Bobby Deol
- Bollywood actors worked with
- August 2019
- Visa granted
- 72 total; Indians 20-25% of migrants
- Alice Springs cultural groups
Why it mattersThe salon shows how migrants are building businesses and community connection in regional Australia, strengthening town culture and economy.
AustraliaAlice Springs is becoming increasingly multicultural, with skilled migrants like Mahendru choosing to stay and invest in the community.
