‘THE EMPIRE ‘ -Mughal Era comes live this August on Disney+Hotstar

Reena Poonacha

Mumbai: Nikkhil Advani’s magnum opus web series “The Empire ”, with its enthralling narrative, extravagant sets, and extensive landscapes with a promise of a visual spectacular shot across India and Uzbekistan. The first teaser was released in July 2021 by Disney+ Hotstar and the trailer was released on August 7,2021 will be available in the Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Bengali, Tamil, Marathi, and Kannada languages.

The series is going to be the biggest and Grandest show ever made in Indian OTT history is expected to be made on the Huge Budget of 130 crores, the final budget figures of the series are yet to be finalized.

It is epic saga of the rise and fall of Mughal Empire through generations from Babur to Aurangzeb. The story starts in Farghana where a young prince, Babur is the heir, whose father, the king of Ferghana, dies in an accident, ousted at a young age he begins his campaign for the conquest of North India, eventually Babur’s ascent to the throne and is in constant danger from an evil warlord. An assassination attempt on him further deepens worries about the vulnerability of Ferghana. The young king must now take responsibility for an entire kingdom and perhaps look to fabled lands beyond his borders.

It is based on the “Empire of the Mughal”; Raiders from the North by Alex Rutherford, is a racy, fictionalized version of the history of the Mughal empire, which dominated South Asia from 1526 to 1757

It is a directorial debut of Mitakshara kumar , associate director on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Bajirao Mastani” and “Padmaavat.”

Its narrative is believed to be first of its kind in the Indian Entertainment Industry, casting, Kunal Kapoor as ‘Babur’, Drashti Dhami as ‘Khanzada Begum’, Shabana Azmi as ‘Aisan Daulat Begum’, Dino Morea as ‘Muhammad Shaybani’, Aditya Seal as ‘ Ibrahim Lodhi’, Sahher Bambba as ‘Maham Begum’ and Rahul Dev as ‘Wazir Khan’

It is creation of Nikkhil Advani and producers are Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani, is believed to be the biggest budgeted Indian series to date and the trailer showcases grand locations, epic battle sequences, grand sets, and elaborate costumes.

The eight-episode series kindles the curiosity showing the complex nature of Babur and spectacular battlefield. It is a Historical drama, and a period adventure drama showcasing the life story of a warrior, adventurer, survivor, and a king. “The Empire” is billed as ‘the biggest show ever created in India’.

Nikkhil Advani said in a statement, “The Empire is a dream project that I have nurtured for years. The narrative we are exploring is something none of the makers have ever attempted in the history of Indian entertainment and given this story a fictional and creative bent. It’s overwhelming to see the trailer receive resounding praises and we hope that it makes for an unforgettable viewing experience.”