The 32-year-old Haryana actor got rid of his trademark stubble, learnt to drape a dhoti convincingly and even took some painting lessons. “I read up on Ravi Varma but those were just a few sugarcoated articles,” says Hooda.

“Mostly, I gave the role my own interpretation, with some guidance from Ketan.”

Ravi Varma was particular about his women’s costumes and jewellery. In Rang Rasiya too, they play a role. The task of coming up with 19th century clothes went to designer Niharika Khan. “It was like putting my head in a spin,” smiles Khan, who’s had some experience in vintage styling with Khoya Khoya Chand. Khan worked for seven months on Rang Rasiya’s costumes before she drew the final sketches. “I had to depict a crossover between northern and southern cultures. I created the clothes from scratch, making dhotis and suits with pearl buttons rather than plastic ones,” says Khan, whose job was made easier because of Hooda’s toned physique.

Wonder if the Malayali artist could boast such sinews, but Hooda says he made Varma charming and devious, and a radical artist. “His art reached out to the masses. We all could learn from him,” says Hooda. Now we’re looking if his movie can do what Varma’s art did.