It has never been easy to do a period film, especially for actors who have to mould themselves in a particular personality to represent the people from that specific time. And often a lot is lost in the transition.

Bollywood's daring beauty, Anushka Sharma who is currently doing a period film 'Bombay Velvet', learnt the above fact the hard way.

First, the actress who plays a jazz singer in the film had to use temporary lip enhancement techniques to look the part.

This earned her a controversy which claimed that she went under the knife. However, she managed to ward it off with her statement on a social networking site.

But the latest news from the sets claimed that the actress was actually drained shooting for an important sequence in a really heavy dress. She was weighed down by an elaborate gown which she wore in the opening song for the film.

The green and golden gown is designed by National Award Winner Niharika Bhasin Khan, who won the mentioned award for designing clothes in 'The Dirty Picture', which too was a period film.

Talking about the gown, it is quintessentially grand. The sequined gown featured a long train and boats of applique flames. We hear that the gown was so heavy that Anushka needed plenty of help to carry it off. Reportedly, it weighed 35 kgs. 

"It took her two-and-half hours to dress and two assistants had to carry the train for her. Thankfully she did not have to dance in it," explained Niharika who worked with Anushka on her 2010 film 'Band Baaja Baaraat' as well.

Further she added that it was not an easy job to keep the gown intact. "The prep was on for a year but the dress was damaged in transit. The upper half was ruined in the Sri Lanka rains. We had to re-do the damaged part," Niharika added.

If grapevine is to be believed, the designer has made 144 outfits for Anushka just for this film.