James Cameron’s collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet has created a genuine critical and box-office marvel— Titanic. The movie has created an astounding craze that is still relevant. Remarkably, it was not limited to the home run rather the whole world fell for the piece of this cinematic masterpiece.
Cameron’s $2.2 billion movie has certainly engrossed a wide array of viewers. In fact, the 1997 movie has made DiCaprio and Winslet global stars. DiCaprio’s character Jack Dawson, in particular, dominated the global pop culture at the time which prompted Afghanistan to ban his hairstyle.
The Wave Of The Titanic Craze in Afghanistan
At the time of the release of the movie, like many fans across the globe, Afghan fans also joined the movement of the Leonardo DiCaprio craze. However, it was short-lived in the country as they banned the hairstyle and the movie. As per the U.S. Department of State, The Taliban controlled over two-thirds of the country including Kabul— the capital and largest city.
The wave of the Titanic craze was reaching the country, not any theatrical releases, of course. Thousands of illegal VHS copies of the Titanic hit the black market of Afghanistan and soon the craze influenced the country’s youth. As reported by many outlets at the time, the poster of the movie could be seen on the house walls, people started referring to large vegetables as “Titanic Vegetables.”
Soon, the youth were seen in queues at their local barbershops to copy DiCaprio’s iconic mushroom haircut in the movie.
Also read: Leonardo DiCaprio Lost His Mind After One Titanic Scene Because of James Cameron’s 20 Takes Rule
Afghanistan Banned Leonardo DiCaprio’s Titanic Hairstyle
As the Titanic craze began to escalate, the Taliban militia noticed and could resonate that it did not follow their Sharia law which bans music and television and imposes strict dress codes and appearances for both men and women.
As reported by BBC News, the barbers were warned not to give “foreign haircuts” which directly referred to DiCaprio’s mushroom haircut at the time. The Taliban religious police have arrested 28 barbers in Kabul. “The only reason is they say the barbers cut the youths’ hair in the Titanic style,” a barber told the outlet.
Specifically, “outlawed are what are called the English cut and the Beatles cut – a reference to the long hair of the British pop group – and a cut inspired by DiCaprio,” The BBC’s Kate Clark in Kabul (at the time) said.
The Titanic craze was so immense that wedding cakes also had a particular shape referring to the movie but the haircut was spreading like wildfire which prompted the Taliban to ban it.
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