From the pages of Empire of the Moghul: Raiders from the North by Alex Rutherford comes the story of a young king who is faced with a seemingly impossible challenge as rampaging armies and brutal enemies threaten his destiny, throne and even survival. One of India’s biggest video-streaming platforms Disney+ Hotstar joins hands with prolific filmmaker Nikkhil Advani of Emmay Entertainment to present the biggest show ever created in India, The Empire – a fiction saga of a warrior-turned-king. Mounted on an unrivaled scale that brings together India’s finest talent, spectacular visuals and a gripping narrative, Hotstar Specials presents The Empire is set to release for all subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar on 27th August 2021.
Disney+ Hotstar has always looked at breakthrough ways of bringing compelling content directly to its viewers. From unique formats of storytelling across seven regional languages to unexplored genres, the streaming platform’s original content under Hotstar Specials is known for its big and authentic storytelling. With The Empire, it is now set to take long-form storytelling to newer heights.
Actor Kunal Kapoor makes his grand digital debut, taking centre stage as the King of the series, and is joined by a powerful ensemble that includes actors Shabana Azmi, Drashti Dhami, Dino Morea, Aditya Seal, Sahher Bambba, Rahul Dev among many others. The series marks the directorial debut of Mitakshara Kumar who has also co-written this epic saga with Bhavani Iyer with Monisha Advani and Madhu Bhojwani of Emmay Entertainment as producers. The 8-episode series has brought together immensely talented costume designers, VFX professionals, production and sound designers, action choreographers all part of a mammoth crew who breathed life into this ambitious vision. Shot across multiple locations in India and Uzbekistan, The Empire brings alive a spectacular and imposing experience studded with epic scenes of battlegrounds, stupendous forts, and vast landscapes.
Showrunner Nikkhil Advani said, “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.”
Actor Kunal Kapoor said, “We have heard many stories about Babur and the Mughals, but very little about who they were, where they came from and how they came into India. In this fictional take, this is a character with a lot of complexities, and that is what intrigued me as an actor. The trailer is just a small glimpse into the world of The Empire.”
Actor Shabana Azmi said, “For many years I have been fascinated by the imperial lives from the pages of history. We have seen and read many stories but the ones that I love the most are where women play strategic roles; much like my character in The Empire – she is fierce, confident, and knows what she wants. I hope the audience enjoys watching her as much as I enjoyed playing her.”
Actor Dino Morea said, “My look in The Empire is everything you imagine to be dangerous and ferocious. His hair, scars and his costume are detailed in a way that makes him look deadly yet maybe desirable. Could probably make the audiences feel fear but will still keep looking. The makeup and the costume team have done a brilliant job at crafting the perfect look.”
ICYMI check out the trailer
Synopsis:
The king of Ferghana dies in an accident and a young prince is now tasked with taking over the throne. It’s a time of great distress due to imminent danger from an evil warlord. An assassination attempt on the king that further deepens the worries about the vulnerability of Ferghana. The young king must now take responsibility for an entire kingdom.
Disney+ Hotstar offers an unmatched entertainment experience to users with the world’s best stories and LIVE sporting action coming together on one platform – where subscribers can enjoy mega-blockbuster films directly releasing on the platform, the best of global movies and shows dubbed in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, best animation films, kids favourite characters, exclusive Hotstar Specials shows in seven languages LIVE sporting action and much more!
Watch the first of its kind, visual spectacle The Empire from 27th August 2021; exclusively for all subscribers of Disney+ Hotstar
