‘Rang Rasiya is about freedom of expression’

Actress Nandana Sen, an admirer of legendary Indian painter Raja Ravi Varma’s works since her childhood, says she was destined to be a part of Rang Rasiya, which is based on the artist’s life.

The actress will be seen essaying the role of Ravi Varma’s muse Sugandha in the Ketan Mehta directed period film. ‘I have always loved Ravi Varma’s works. When I was studying at Harvard I had a painting of Hamsa Damayanti in my dorm room. I also have two large Ravi Varma paintings at my home. I feel I was destined to play this role. I have always been fascinated by his works,’ Nandana said.

The Black actress added, ‘I have been looking at the eyes of these women while I was growing up and now I get to play the woman who inspired these paintings.’ Nandana, daughter of Nobel Laureate and Bharat Ratna economist Amartya Sen and Padma Shri winner Bengali author Nabanita Dev Sen, said that with Rang Rasiya, her dream of working with Mehta came true.