Crossword Genius

Exclude a hard-hearted bighead (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

bar

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'exclude' is the definition.
(I know that exclude can be written as bar)

'a hard-hearted bighead' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'a' is within the answer.
'bighead' could be 'b' (the head letter of 'big') and 'b' is located in the answer.
A single letter 'r' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for bar that I've seen before include "In Mississippi, measure" , "sovereign" , "Ballet dancer's exercise rail" , "Hostelry" , "Prevent; sandbank" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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