Shrabani Basu couldn't particularly explore Abdul Karim's relationship with his wife, given that her book, Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidant, was a non-fiction. But, in the cinematic adaptation that made its way to the big screen last year, Basu says she hoped "some of his [Karim] conversations with his wife" could have been explored further. Yet, the writer isn't disheartened.

She calls herself lucky to have Dame Judi Dench slip into the role of Queen Victoria in Stephen Frears's British biographical drama. "There are so many layers to her. She goes through sadness, excitement and greediness; everything that her character [comprises]. No one but Judi could have done it," Basu tells mid-day as the film gears up for a television screening on November 12 on Sony Pix.