The Empire: This magnum opus is ruling our hearts!
The recently released eight-part epic saga, The Empire, on Disney+ Hotstar, has got fans thrilled. The first season tells the story of Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur from the pages of Alex Rutherford’s Empire Of The Moghul, a fictional novel series.
The historical fiction has marked a solid presence in the Indian digital realm by delivering believable characterisation and an engaging plot. The magnum opus, with one-of-a-kind production value and magnitude, earlier only seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films, is the creation of filmmaker Nikkhil Advani. The cast, including Kunal Kapoor, Drashti Dhami and Dino Morea, hooked the audience with their spellbinding performance. The charm and command in Shabana Azmi’s character Esan Dawlat Begum exuded on screen as well.
The series showcases the strong presence of women in politics, and the sacrifices they made in order to build an allpowerful kingdom. For the first time in Indian entertainment, women characters inspired by history come to life in detail. From the look of each character, forts, war sequences to landscapes of Uzbekistan and parts of India, the makers have set up a visual treat.
Talking about the series, filmmaker Karan Johar said, “The stunning visuals from the show The Empire have left the audience, myself included, mesmerised and intrigued.” Actor Abhishek Bachchan took to social media to praise the team of The Empire for their efforts in creating this magnum opus. Commenting on actor Kunal Kapoor’s royal warrior look, Bachchan said,
“Looking great.” Director Hansal Mehta also appreciated the efforts and tweeted, “Saw 4 episodes of #TheEmpire. It is a labour of love for sure. Some great sets, terrific action, gorgeous costumes and fine performances. Congratulations @nikkhiladvani @mitaksharakumar @DisneyPlusHS for this brave and ambitious show (sic).”
Expressing her gratitude for the heart-warming response, Dhami says, “My family and I decided to watch the series
together. They were so emotional watching the show. They felt this was my best performance till date. Industry colleagues and fans from all over the world congratulated me. I am humbled and inspired by such an overwhelming response.”
Embracing the praise, Morea says, “After watching The Empire, and reading and listening to the amazing feedback, I was overwhelmed. I did get a little teary-eyed, I won’t lie. It felt like my first
huge success, Raaz (2002), when the applause was insane. Likewise, having patiently waited for this massive opportunity and giving it everything as an actor, and then receiving the praise, is very emotional for me. I am so grateful for this and I thank myself for not giving up.”
Watch the story of Babur’s life unfold in Disney+ Hotstar’s The Empire, based on Alex Rutherford’s fictional novel series, Empire Of The Moghul.