While the teaser creative of the keenly anticipated SINGH IS KINNG has Akshay Kumar as a clean-shaven Sardar, the superstar decided against the idea of being beardless and actually grew one for the role.

Though Bollywood has in the past shown Sikh characters without beards, Akshay's rationale was that a beard of a Sikh is one of the five sacred insignia of his religion.

However, veteran actor Om Puri had to forego the beard in SINGH IS KINNG for a valid reason. "Like Amit ji my face is allergic to beards. I get rashes from facial hair. So, I played the Sardar with all the other mandatory requirements except the beard!"

SINGH IS KINNG releases on August 8. It is an Indian Films - Studio 18 release worldwide.