India's Hero Abhinandan Varthaman's Moustache in Demand in the Indian Salon

Guwahati: Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has become a national figure for the nation after he was released by Pakistan on Friday last. Varthaman was captured by Pakistan after he has fallen on the Line of Control on the Pakistan side after An aerial combat.

The pilot become a national hero within hours of his capture after Pakistani forces shot down his fighter jet. Since then the pilot has gone viral on social media with many Indians hailing his facial hair as a sign of valour.

The country's most popular dairy brand, Amul made a video celebrating the fighter pilot's moustache.

The handlebar style moustaches are not uncommon in India but Varthaman's moustache has been followed by many Indian men after he became India's hero. The handlebar moustaches were once identified with flamboyant Bollywood villains, imperious military and police officers and even a notorious smuggler but Indian men followed only Varthaman's moustaches as he has become the hero of India after a Pakistani fighter jet F-16 has been shot down by him.

The reputation of the handlebar moustache appears to have been rescued over the past few days as it became synonymous with courage and patriotism.

In the Southern city of Bangalore, at least one hair salon offered free haircuts and moustache style to anyone who wanted to look like the Wing Commander.

One of the client in a salon at Bangalore said that he was one of the lucky ones saying that he has done it for the Wing Commander and said that if he has done so much for the country then why can't they do this much?

Some people even tweeted with their photos of themselves sporting the moustache across the country saying that they have inspired what the Wing Commander has done for the nation.

Most of the Indians first saw the pilot on February 27 after Pakistan's information ministry released a video of the Wing Commander showing him blindfolded and his face bloodied which was later deleted.

Later, a video has been released showing he was sipping a cup of tea. It was reported later that he didn't panic when he was questioned by the Pakistani forces and even swallowed the documents which couldn't be shared with the enemy country.

Crowds waving the Indian flag thronged the Wagah border in Punjab state during his return to his nation, where he was handed over to Indian officials on Friday.

News of his return was greeted with fireworks in several Indian cities, including the capital Delhi.

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