Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; May 21, 2015)

Ranveer Singh, who is playing the role of Peshwa Baji Rao I in the upcoming film Bajirao Mastani will have a complete makeover. Not only has he gone bald for the role, the actor will sport light-coloured eyes. He will be donning contact lenses for the role, inform sources.

That’s because the 17th century Maratha general was said to be a Hindu Kokanastha Chitpavan Brahmin and the sect is known for its fair-skin and light-colour eyes — brown or blue. Earlier, in a couple of Marathi TV serials based on the Maratha, the actors were also shown to be light-eyed.

Manoj Joshi essayed Baji Rao in Rau that was aired on Doordarshan in 1990. “That was my first serial and those days, there was no prosthetic make-up. Baji Rao was said to have a sharp nose and light brown eyes. Since I had both, I didn’t need any make-up,” says Manoj.

More recently, on ETV Marathi, there was a serial called Shrimant Peshva Bajirao Mastani that depicted the passionate love story of Baji Rao and Mastani. Angad Mhaskar, who played the title role, has light grey eyes himself.