Kunal Kapoor Opens Up About Upcoming Show The Empire, Says Its A Visual Spectacle Never Seen Before In India
Actor Kunal Kapoor says his upcoming Disney + Hotstar series The Empire will be a "visual spectacle" for the audience, with battle sequences mounted on a huge scale
Actor
Kunal
Kapoor
says
his
upcoming
Disney
+
Hotstar
series
The
Empire
will
be
a
"visual
spectacle" for
the
audience,
with
battle
sequences
mounted
on
a
huge
scale.
The
epic
period-action-drama,
created
by
filmmaker-producer
Nikkhil
Advani,
will
follow
the
story
of
a
warrior,
adventurer,
survivor,
and
a
king.
On
the
Mitakshara
Kumar-directed
show,
which
traces
the
origins
of
a
dynasty,
Kapoor
features
as
an
emperor.
The
Rang
De
Basanti
actor
said
The
Empire
was
the
perfect
platform
for
him
to
make
his
digital
debut
with
as
it
was
"something
that
I
never
really
had
a
chance
to
do
before."
"It
has
been
an
interesting
experience.
I
don't
think
I
have
been
part
of
something
that
has
been
mounted
on
this
big
a
scale.
It
is
going
to
be
an
interesting
experience
for
the
audience
because,
primarily,
it
is
a
visual
spectacle,
the
kind
of
which
you
have
not
seen
on
any
platform
in
this
country," Kapoor
said
in
a
virtual
press
conference
for
the
unveiling
of
Disney+Hotstar's
new
slate.
The
actor
said
it
was
challenging
to
film
the
series
and
mount
big-scale
action
pieces,
especially
due
to
the
coronavirus
pandemic.
"Shooting
all
the
battle
scenes
during
the
last
couple
of
years,
shooting
a
big
spectacle
in
the
middle
of
a
pandemic
has
been
difficult
but
it
has
turned
out
really
well
and
I
am
looking
forward
to
how
the
audience
reacts
to
it," he
added.
The
Empire
also
stars
Shabana
Azmi,
Dino
Morea
and
Drashti
Dhami.
Azmi,
who
was
also
present
at
the
virtual
event,
said
the
show
offered
her
the
chance
to
do
a
historical
character.
"What
intrigued
me
the
most
about
my
character
was
that
she
is
feisty,
educated
and
she
is
the
king
maker.
You
usually
see
a
man
being
a
king
maker
but
in
her
case,
she
is
the
one.
That
excited
me
about
the
part.
The
makers,
Nikkhil
and
Mitakshara,
have
a
great
eye.
"Mitakshara,
particularly,
is
interested
in
the
fine
detailing
of
a
frame.
That
was
attractive
for
me.
I
am
sure
the
show
will
be
appreciated
a
great
deal,"
she
added.
The
70-year-old
actor
said
the
digital
platforms
have
completely
changed
the
viewing
habits
of
the
audience
and
as
artistes,
one
has
to
make
the
most
of
the
interesting
projects
which
they
are
offered
on
OTT
services.
"There
were
two
challenges
which
came
my
way.
People
on
OTT
don't
watch
content
the
way
one
would
usually
sit
down
and
watch
a
two-hour
film,
with
full
concentration.
Here,
people
consume
in
different
ways,
with
the
facility
to
switch
off
if
the
story
of
the
show
or
film
doesn't
appeal
to
them.
"As
an
actor,
that
challenge
attracted
me.
OTT
will
bring
with
it
the
possibilities
of
getting
more
challenging
roles,
characters
which
don't
depend
on
gender
or
age
but
only
on
stories.
If
content
is
the
king,
that
will
always
be
a
huge
advantage
for
actors,"
she
added.
Nikkhil
Advani,
known
for
films
like
Kal
Ho
Na
Ho
and
D
Day,
will
also
serve
as
the
showrunner
on
the
project.
His
sister
Monisha
Advani
will
produce
along
with
Madhu
Bhojwani
through
their
banner
Emmay
Entertainment.