OTT will become even stronger, but films will always remain: Shabana Azmi on 'The Empire' and more

It was challenging because we started shooting during Covid and in spite of all the precautions that were taken ,our producer Nikkhil Advani succumbed to it and so did the director Mitakshara’s sister Shama who is also her right hand.There was considerable anxiety but then the spirit of the show must go on, over. And I enjoyed it very much. It is different from doing a film but for an actor adapting to any medium whether film, television or theatre is part of the game.

I was intrigued by Esan Daulat’s character. She has many layers and there is very little reference to her except for one painting. So we had to take from whatever was offered in the book and then build a backstory for her. She is the kingmaker who puts Babar on the throne when he is only 14. Obviously there is intrigue and machinations to be associated with her and yet we had to explore the vulnerable side to her as well.

We base all historical performances on a template of Mughal-e- Azam for instance. I had to find both a public and private persona to her. Cate Blanchet in Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth had a perfect balance of both and I took some inspiration from that.

The women in the series are all strong and not peripheral like they often are. I put in a lot of effort on Esan’s look. I cut my eyebrows into half because I feel eyebrows change expression on a face. I put a mole on the nose and some others on the face and neck to give a more tribal look. I pulled out a lot of my personal Central Asian antique jackets and Sheetal Sharma pulled out a lot from them. We decided to do away from the usual emerald and diamonds associated with kings and queens and opted for silver and beads. When I watch the series I feel that worked really well. Mitakshara the director has a very keen eye and she used colour palettes exquisitely helped greatly by the production designer.

I would play a submissive woman if she has an arc and rebels in the end. Or if she doesn’t then the intent of the maker has to be clear. Is her submissiveness endorsed by the maker or does it result in revolt by the viewer that this cannot be allowed and the film acts as a catalyst for change.

I do think the digital platform is going to become even stronger because people have changed in how they view content. Films will always remain but I think the more experimental stuff is happening on the digital platform. Films will become more participatory. Audiences will be able to choose different endings, they will experience the weather, the smells etc. The big-screen films will have to develop an identity different from the digital world. For actors it is an exciting time. So much of CG and green screens are used that actors have to hone their imagination techniques. It’s like relearning.

I do not consider myself as a guru but truly as a learner. I learn from everyone the young and the experienced. It would be preposterous for me to say I glimpse Shabana Aazmi in so and so ! The actors I like are Vidya Balan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Nawazuddin and many many character actors. The advent of the casting director has changed the ecosystem. Earlier we had stock characters played by Om Prakash, Jeevan, Murad etc. Today they are being found from the hinterlands and from theatre. They bring a lot of freshness and also inspire the lead actors to work harder. Seema and Manoj Pahwa are both very good.

Javed and I belong to the same world. We were really meant to be together. We respect each other's work and also push to make the other work harder. When I had to sing for Aparna Sen’s Sonata, I came away a trifle dissatisfied after the first recording. He chewed my brains to get Aparna to re-do it. Today when I get so many compliments for it, I credit both Aparna and Jadu (Javed) in equal measure.

If I find a song he is writing is not his best I push him too. Obviously in the area I have no say is in his poetry. I fancy myself his stylist and get distraught when he is careless about what he wears. Pat comes his reply “Log meri baatein sunne aate hain mere kapde dekhne nahi !” I say bhai sunne bhi aate hain aur dekhne bhi. Koi aankh pey patti to nahi bandh lete na !” And this nokjhonk continues. Of course we have our differences and are very vocal about them but the commonalities are mercifully more. I feel that there can be no relationship more nurturing than a healthy marriage.