'The turban saved my life.' Bollywed's patriarch escaped serious injury after a car accident

After Kuki Singh was hit by a car, two things immediately popped into his mind.

The beloved patriarch of CBC's Bollywed had stepped out of his store, Chandan Fashion, and into a small side street, where a turning car knocked him down. "Just turning very fast," Kuki explains, "he didn't ever see me." 

With one arm smashed by the car, and his other arm smashed on the ground as he fell on his side, Kuki was in shock. Everything happened so fast. His family rushed to him, says Chandan Singh, Kuki's son and Bollywed costar.

Kuki's first words? "'Are you going to the store?'" Chandan says, quoting his father. His family laughs around him. "Yeah, he's like, 'The turban saved my life,'" Chandan continues. "He already knew that. We already knew. He's like, 'The turban saved my life.'"

A colourful collection

Doctors and medical staff later confirmed Kuki's gratitude — his turban, an ancient garment dating back at least 4,300 years and still worn in many regions of the world today, protected him from a serious head injury on the pavement.

Watch | "My turban saved my life," says Kuki Singh after the accident

"My turban saved my life." Kuki escapes serious harm after a car accident | Bollywed

10 months ago

Duration 1:30

After a car accident, Kuki visits the hospital where he learns that his turban may have protected his head from injury.

It's no minor detail: Kuki is famous for his turbans, the crowning adornment of his fashion persona. While it's an opportunity for Kuki to build on his signature style, the turban is, more importantly, the signifier of his Sikh faith. 

A neighbourhood fixture in Toronto's Little India, Kuki is known for his store selling wedding fashions for the South Asian community — and equally recognized for his personal flair.

"So he'll have a suit with a pink shirt and a matching pink [turban], or he'll have a blue-and-white suit with a blue-and-white turban, right," Chandan says of his father's style. "And the socks, and the tie, and the shoes, and the pocket square. So it will be all colour-coordinated."

While Chandan estimates he has about 10 turbans, he says his father Kuki has 300. "He took one of the guest rooms upstairs and he converted the whole guest room into his walk-in closet with his turbans and matching suits," he says.

For decades, Kuki was protective about his unique style, Chandan adds. Customers would compliment his turban and ask to buy one, and he would send them to the basement, where the selection was plain blue, black or white. Kuki, meanwhile, would be wearing pink, adorned with a glittering pattern.

"And then so people will come back and be like, 'No, no, I want what you're wearing,'" says Chandan. "He's like, 'No, this is just mine. This is just my signature.'" But all that is changing.

Grateful for his protective head covering, Kuki now wants to open a shop for stylish, elaborate turbans. For now, he has a selection on display within their existing store, but a dedicated storefront is the dream. The company name? "Sardar Ji Pagri Wala." "Like 'The gentleman with a turban,'" translates Roop, Chandan's wife. "Or 'The turbaned gentleman.'"

Watch | Kuki shows the family his new turban display

Kuki puts together a pop-up to sell his flamboyant turbans | Bollywed

10 months ago

Duration 0:55

When Kuki was saved by his turban during an accident, he decided he wanted to share his personal style with the world.

Kuki is no longer protective of his individual style — now he wants to share. "Now God gave to me a chance [after the injury scare,]" he says. "This is my turban, now I give to everybody."

Keeping the family tight

Turbans are personal, intimate garments, Roop says, that can take anywhere between five minutes to an hour to tie, depending on the wearer's experience.

"My favourite thing about a turban is that it's almost like a really nice bonding experience," Roop says. "Even between like husband and wife — I'm sure mom helps dad all the time. It's something that, whenever we're getting ready, I will stop whatever I'm doing right to help [Chandan] tie his turban. It's us, together, doing something very sacred to us."

Togetherness is the founding pillar of this family, as Season 2 shows the business expanding to a second location, and the gruelling commute between the two stores. What should take 45 minutes with no traffic, Chandan and Roop say, now takes up to 2 hours and 45 minutes in

Toronto's infamous gridlock — apparently the worst city in North America.

Filming the show gives them another excuse to spend more time together, Chandan points out, even in addition to running businesses as a family. As they grow, Roop adds, they try to stay close.

"And that is not an easy feat," she says. "But it is one that's so important that we work at it every single day."

Even with the long drive between them, Sarab, the matriarch of the family, agrees. Family is paramount.

"They are close to my heart," she says of her children opening another location. "This is how I feel: you can live anywhere, mom will be always in both of your hearts."