Arkady Ukupnik, celebrating his 70th birthday on February 18, spoke in a wide interview with mkru about how Alla Pugacheva and producer Alexander Tolmatsky helped shape his now-iconic look with curls and glasses. The singer and composer recalls that the famous image began taking form years earlier, long before the public first responded to it. In his telling, Pugacheva invited him to her Christmas Meetings program in 1991 with the song Fiesta, and she decided that curls would not be part of his on-screen image. He was sent to a stylist, his hair was cut and permed, even though his natural hair was curly. The transformation was described as a practical decision that matched the evolving stage persona they aimed to project, and Ukupnik notes the change as a pivotal moment in the visual identity that audiences would come to recognize and remember.
Later, on the set of the clip Captain’s Daughter, glasses were added to the look by Tolmatsky, who provided him with his wife’s distinctive frame. Ukupnik explains that during a rapid sequence with a dramatic explosion effect, the glasses were exposed to magnesium and sustained damage. Tolmatsky later gave him the damaged pair back, and Ukupnik used them in performances, including the Christmas Meetings, which helped cement the final, recognizable image. He stresses that these small, bold choices—paired with the stage presence that Alla Pugacheva encouraged and the inventive direction from Tolmatsky—contributed to a striking, cohesive stage persona. The result was a ready-made visual that complemented his voice and performance style, and it became a milestone in how he connected with audiences, as well as a learning process about stagecraft, timing, and audience engagement.
In reflecting on his career and life choices, Ukupnik has also spoken about property decisions, including why he has not sold an apartment in Jurmala. This remark adds another layer to the portrait of a long-running artist who balanced personal life with public performance, constantly adapting his image and repertoire to stay relevant and engaging for fans across generations.