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THE EMPIRE: A MUST WATCH VISUAL SPECTACLE ON DISNEY+ HOTSTAR

And power-packed The series boasts of an impeccable storyline by the audience performanc­es and is being much loved

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Possibly the biggest show of 2021 — The Empire — dropped on Disney+ Hotstar last Friday, and has stunned audiences. From the very first episode, the show will have you captivated till the very end. The mood of the show is set with its high-intensity action sequences and the story leaves the viewers anticipati­ng what befalls this young king. Created by the visionary director Nikkhil Advani, and debutant director Mitakshara Kumar, the ambitious series inspired by the Mughal era has single-handedly raised the bar for any Indian series in the digital space. The eight-part visual spectacle succeeds in creating an experience similar to the grandeur only witnessed in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali production.

BABUR’S STORY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, IN A SERIES

Films and shows have often touched on the stories from the pages of history. But The Empire is the first-ever series that brings Babur’s journey into the spotlight. From the pages of Empire of the Moghul: Raiders from the North by Alex Rutherford, the show traces the journey of Babur as he became king at the young age of fourteen. Co-writers Mitakshara Kumar and Bhawani Iyer’s screenplay weaves a tale never told before.

POWER-PACKED PERFORMANC­ES

The Empire brings together powerhouse talent from the Indian entertainm­ent industry. Reviews across the board speak of the intense characters actor Kunal Kapoor and Drashti Dhami don in the series. It’s the first time Kapoor and Dhami helm royal characters with a range of emotions. Seasoned actor Shabana Azmi as Esan Dawlat Begum delivers a power-packed performanc­e as Babur’s grandmothe­r and the kingmaker. Actor Dino Morea’s character Shaibani Khan keeps the audience hooked with his antics and unpredicta­ble personalit­y.

UNMISSABLE EMERGING TALENT Actor Rahul Dev, portraying the role of Wazir Khan, brings his years of experience to the table as he helps young Babur manoeuvre to conquer territorie­s. Aditya Seal, Sahher Bambba, Imaad Shah play significan­t roles that take the narrative forward. Gracy Goswami and Mehsoor Mir play young Khanzada and Babur, respective­ly, and deliver an unmissable performanc­e.

A COMPLETE ENTERTAINM­ENT

This is the first time an Indian web series has gone big with its casting, production, costume, design, and special effects. Shot across multiple locations, the show makes for a visually appealing web series packaged with excellent music and background score. The talented costume designers, VFX profession­als, production and sound designers, action choreograp­hers have together turned the show into a spectacula­r extravagan­za.

AN EMPIRE LED BY WOMEN

The show sheds light on women of the Mughal dynasty, and their contributi­on that help built an empire. It is the first time audiences are introduced to aweinspiri­ng characters such as Esan Dawlat Begum and Khanzada. Mitakshara Kumar and Bhawani Iyer’s potent writing brings the strength of these characters to the fore.

With everyone talking about it, and being praised by celebritie­s such as Hrithik Roshan, Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Abhishek Bachchan among others, The Empire is a show you don’t want to miss. The first season has left the audiences wanting more, setting up a strong foundation for a second season.

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 ??  ?? (Above) Dino Morea’s character Shaibani Khan keeps the audience hooked with his antics; Playing the key role of Babur,
(L) Kunal Kapoor showcases a range of emotions throughout the epic drama
(Above) Dino Morea’s character Shaibani Khan keeps the audience hooked with his antics; Playing the key role of Babur, (L) Kunal Kapoor showcases a range of emotions throughout the epic drama
 ??  ?? (L) Shabana Azmi as Esan Dawlat Begum delivers a power-packed performanc­e; (above) Drashti Dhami aces the role of princess Khanzada
(L) Shabana Azmi as Esan Dawlat Begum delivers a power-packed performanc­e; (above) Drashti Dhami aces the role of princess Khanzada
 ?? PHOTOS: HTCS ?? Kunal Kapoor plays the role of Mughal emperor Babur in the web series
PHOTOS: HTCS Kunal Kapoor plays the role of Mughal emperor Babur in the web series

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