Mughal emperor Babur’s rise to power would perhaps be incomplete without the guidance and tenacity of his grandmother Aisan Daulat Begum. Director Mitakshara Kumar’s The Empire, which premiered over the weekend, not only charts the early years of Babur’s journey, but also explores how his courageous grandmother—played by Shabana Azmi—was the true kingmaker. Casting director Kavish Sinha says the senior actor was an asset on the set as much for her acting prowess as for her command over the Urdu language. The actor would help her co-stars perfect the enunciation of the Urdu alfaaz.

“Shabanaji worked hard on the diction of other actors because she is particular about the Urdu language and its pronunciation,” says Sinha. He adds that the Disney+ Hotstar series, featuring Kunal Kapoor, shines a spotlight on the women in the Mughal dynasty.