Mumbai, Sep 18 - His long curly locks helped him bag an important role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's production 'Chenab Gandhi'. And now Rajeev Khandelwal refuses to crop them even though another film is going on the floors first and requires him to sport short hair.

'One of the reasons why Bhansali selected me was my hair,' Rajeev, who hosts the controversial game snow 'Sacch Ka Saamna', told IANS.

'I had grown it really long and curly for my role as a Goan beach bum in 'Peter Gaya Kaam Se'. Bhansali saw that look and thought it was what he wanted for his assistant Vibhu Puri's film. That's how I was considered,' said the actor who earned critical acclaim for his performance in 'Aamir'.

But there is a catch. Before Rajeev goes into 'Chenab Gandhi', he has allotted dates to Sourabh Narang's 'Return Gift' which requires him to play an Indian civil servant on a diplomatic mission. And everyone knows bureaucrats are supposed to sport close-cropped hair.

'I was in a dilemma since Sourabh's film needed me to keep my hair short. And there was no time to cut my hair and grow it back. So I was left with no choice but to ask Sourabh to work his way around my hair,' said Rajeev.

The actor is in no mood to compromise for his role in Bhansali's movie.

'For the privilege of working with Bhansali, I'd happily go bald.