One of Bollywood's biggest stars says women are taking more of a leading role in global film and TV productions.

Tabu appears in the latest episode of Dune: Prophecy - the series inspired by Frank Herbert's classic novels and recent films.

Originally titled Dune: Sisterhood, Tabu says women, including director Anna Foerster, played an important role in the show both in front of and behind the camera.

"Being surrounded, feeling empowered and feeling like you're the one running the show... it's really cool to see that happen," she told BBC Asian Network News.

It's a trend that Tabu, a household name in Hindi cinema, feels is not just limited to international projects, but something she has noticed in her native industry.

"There has been a big change around the world where women are at the center of their place in many places."

Tabu is celebrating her role in the commercially successful Hindi film Crew, starring herself, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon.

"It's part of the big change and it was also because the women I worked with have achieved so much in their fields," Tabu, 53, says.

“They have a grip, they have control of their craft.

“They have a sense of how to deal with people because I feel that everything is about people management.

"That comes with experience, maturity and putting a lot of work into so many years of their own careers. So that felt comfortable, safe, and you felt like you were understood."

Dune: A prophecy described by critics as "very different sci-fi with women at all levels in control", by fans in India very happy with Tabu's appearance in the show.

While she says schedules aligned to allow her to play the role of Sister Francesca, the opportunity to work in a different environment with an international cast was appealing.

"I always like those experiences. Because I don't live in that world."

She says that people from Serbia, Spain, the UK, Ukraine and Germany were involved, which helped her to understand different people and cultures.

"It was very exciting, putting a lot more fun and drama on the screen, of course, but off the screen," she says.

"I got to interact with people from so many different parts of the world."

Tabu's career in the industry spans several decades, with acting credits including other Western productions such as Life of Pi and A Adapt Boy.

But despite everything she has achieved, the actor says she wants to never look back.

"Because I feel like I've stopped (if I do).

“(Sometimes I feel like) I'm still new and I'm still learning so much.

"The only thing I feel very grateful and humbled is that I have received a lot of love and respect from people or from my audience.

And she says she is still inspired by the types of roles she plays, like Francesca.

“I should be able to get to know this character in a whole new way.

“I should be able to present this character in a completely new way (to the audience).

"The cinema is over 100 years old, they have been seeing things happen, actors and characters."

Tabu also says that she saw the role as an opportunity to find out more about herself.

“Because acting is a lived experience, you're lucky that the luxury of your job isn't confined to one place.

“You still have to put yourself out there in front of the camera, and study yourself and express yourself every day when you're on film.

"That's the only tool you have. I look at it in a personal way."

Listen to Ankur Desai's show on BBC Asian Network alive from 15:00-18:00 Monday to Thursday - or listen back here.