By defeating Lodhi in Panipat,
my grandfather Late Babur formed the Mughal Empire in Hindustan.
But I will add the final touch to that victory,
by winning Chittor.
I am Jalal-ud-din Muhammad.
History will know me as Akbar.
My father used to say,
some people are so special
that to reach out to them, Gods even pluck the stars.
That night there was a shooting star too.
Which illuminated the silhouette of the Commander General of Chittor, Jaimal.
I killed him there and then.
We killed 30,000 people that night.
Women...
Kids... We didn't spare anyone.
Everything I could accomplish as an emperor...
I did.
But the human inside me was incomplete.
There was one yearning in my life that only the Gods could satiate.
To make the Gods listen to my prayers,
I went to sage Sheikh Salim Chisti.
You've left thousands of mothers' laps barren.
And you are now here to beg for a child?
Your hands,
are soaked with the blood of the innocent.
Where there's war, there'll be blood.
Whether it's your own or the enemies
The Rajput camps were burning bright.
As if thousands of pyres were being burnt at once.
That was the sanctified fire of Jauhar.
When they have no one
to save their land, their fort,
these brave Rajput widows
jump into the burning pyres...
with great pride.
That's exactly what happened.
The glorious Empire of Hindustan is in my hands, but...
Even after three marriages, I am childless.
Have you ever considered your subjects
as your children?
As for your heir,
have some patience.
The voice of the Gods tells me...
you will father not one
but three children.
- Amen. - Jalal...
No enemy can harm you.
It's your own...
you should be wary of.
Keep one thing in mind...
When the waters run red...
Royal blood will be spilled.
Prince Salim,
the heir to the Mughal throne.
If there's paradise on earth...
Then this is it.
Daniyal!
Come here.
Brother Murad,
it's time for the Zuhr prayer, brother.
Will you come along?
Don't enforce God so much on yourself, Daniyal,
that you have to search for him five times a day.
He who is omnipresent need not be searched anywhere.
Just seek his blessings.
Really?
Let's test the power of his blessings.
Pick the sword!
Here.
Brother!
Oh, Durjan!
Brother!
Prince Salim!
Your brothers!
What happened?
It seems your prayers are not being heard.
Prince Salim!
You are crossing the line brother.
I haven't even started yet.
I am ashamed to call you my brother.
When you were born,
the nanny said a boy is born.
She lied.
I can cut off your tongue if I wish to with this axe.
Or do you like the taste of swords?
Murad!
Can we put this sword to the test, Murad?
What's wrong, Murad?
You look tired.
Are your concubines not giving you a proper massage?
Shall I have a word with them?
You're not in your senses.
Well, I'm kicking your ass even though I'm intoxicated.
Imagine what would have happened to you, if I wasn't intoxicated.
Oh he has grown a pair.
You need to calm down, Murad. Your face is flushed.
Murad!
Daniyal.
- Are you okay? - Thank you brother.
If you hadn't saved me...
I'm sorry.
He's the one who must apologize to you.
I'll get him to apologize.
You really are drunk.
Your Highness.
Come, Man Singh, come.
- Speak. - Your brother,
Mirza Hakim has lost his mind.
He's attacking the Hindu settlements at the Northern border.
It was due to Allah's grace
that my stepbrother,
Jalal-ud-din Muhammad, was crowned Emperor Akbar.
But, today the same Akbar,
has lost himself in alcohol and lust!
He advocates for the Hindu infidels.
I am asking you,
what do you call someone who tries to save infidels?
- Infidel! - Infidel!
Today, we will show that Akbar, the power of the Gods.
The wrath of the Gods.
The throne of Hindustan
will rightly belong to the Taimur dynasty's real heirs.
And the infidels will cease to exist!
Attack!
- Attack! - Attack!
Your brother Mirza Hakim's rebellion is gaining ground.
He kills whoever raises their voice against him.
The ruler of Hindustan,
Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar
is arriving at Diwan -e-khas.
Man Singh, what have you thought about Mirza Hakim?
There's nothing to think about.
We have to stomp out this rebellion with all our force, Your Highness.
Discuss this once with Raja Todar Mal as well.
What does the royal treasury think about sending a huge battalion to war?
The royal treasury is already suffering from drought and disease, Your Highness.
There's nothing to worry about, we have our diamonds.
Instead of spending our precious diamonds,
why not ask our Hindu brothers to pay a little more tax this time?
The Hindus are already paying double taxes.
That's true Your Highness.
We will make Mirza Hakim pay for our losses.
But what about the loss of human lives?
Birbal, please focus on your poems rather than focusing on wars.
Your Highness, this war is not with strangers.
It's between you and your blood.
I feel we must consider negotiation.
As long as Hakim lives,
he will have the claim to the throne.
Why don't we send an assassin to murder him?
All we need to do is cut the snake's head off.
But what about the snakelets?
His kids will start rebelling against us tomorrow.
It is not about the cost,
It is about the principles.
Why should we punish the Hindu population for Mirza Hakim's sins?
And Abul Fazl, cowards use assassins.
It doesn't matter that Mirza Hakim is our blood,
he will be punished for his deeds.
Wait! Show me what is that?
You've found a good way to impress the emperor.
Will you sit beside us tomorrow?
No Padshah Begum.
- That wasn't my intention - Enough!
You knew, that the emperor doesn't desire any more children.
Yet you made the same mistake.
Ruqaiya!
- Let it go. She's naïve. - She's not that naïve.
She's getting into bed with the emperor to pave her way to the throne--
- What are you... - Think before saying all this!
She should have decency.
I just have a foul mouth.
Not a low-born like her.
Drink this.
It'll hurt and you'll bleed.
After that, all the rubbish will be flushed out.
Drink a lot of water.
It'll help with the pain.
Ruler of Hindustan,
Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar
is arriving!
Greetings, Your Highness.
You are all here together?
I hope you aren't conspiring against me?
Jodha, I need to talk to you.
If I was you, I would not have told her about the water.
I would've let
Akbar's shameless concubine suffer.
Get some rest.
I'll be back.
Mirza Hakim has been testing my patience every day.
I don't know what to do with him.
He has attacked a Hindu settlement at the Shumali border.
Isn't he scared of the emperor's fury?
He doesn't consider me an emperor.
I am just an infidel in his eyes.
And he thinks I inherited the throne just because I was the eldest.
There's some truth to it.
But in all these years,
haven't I proved my competence?
There's no doubt about it.
In the entire Mughal history, there's no one like you.
But he hates the Hindus.
And you, married a Hindu.
Our wedding...
was not just a political alliance Jodha.
It was a lesson for people like Mirza Hakim.
If Emperor Akbar's favorite wife...
is Hindu,
it means that the Hindus have equal rights in his kingdom.
What do you want from me?
Hakim is trying to instigate the Rajputs.
He will be punished for that.
But meanwhile, I want you to calm your people down.
[Jodha] Yes
[Jodha] I will inform my people immediately.
Father must think I'm useless.
Well, if he thinks you're useless, imagine what he thinks about me and Murad.
I don't know about Murad, but he'd prayed to the Gods for you.
Not for us.
It was different then my brother. That time has passed.
Now he must be begging the Gods to take me back.
That's what you think.
The next in line is you.
Everyone says you're following in his footsteps.
I do not wish to follow in his footsteps Daniyal.
Do you know your biggest weakness Daniyal?
That I can't fight like you.
No, that you think too much.
Bring some color into your life like me.
Keep smiling like this.
I love it when you smile like this.
Daniyal, there's enough space for all three of us brothers in this empire.
- Don't forget that. - Hey!
Whose face is flushed now?
Wretched.
How's it?
Delicious.
Don't...
finish it all.
Come.
Do you think I'm a fool?
Brothers don't just fight.
They eat, they drink...
and have affairs and share pretty women together.
Everything's fair...
as long as brothers don't humiliate each other in public.
Murad apologize to Daniyal.
I made a mistake Daniyal.
Forgive me.
I get swayed in the heat of the moment.
All right, no more complaints now.
Let's drink to our brotherhood!
Daniyal, just drink it. No one is looking.
- I'm okay with juice. - Juice it is then.
This drink and this evening...
in the name of Akbar's three sons.
[Itimad] The emperor has asked for
your presence in the Diwan-e-aam.
[Ruqaiya] Itimad,
any idea why we were summoned?
Pardon me, Padshah Begum.
I do not have any idea.
You're a dark horse.
You know everything.
- Where were you? - I'm sorry, Father, I am late.
Come on, hurry up.
General,
do you think we're going to war?
Have some patience Hashim Barah.
You'll find out.
The ruler of Hindustan
Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar
is arriving at the court.
I'm at peace today.
To see all my sons together here.
The wealth of the entire world
is not greater than
one's own blood.
There has always been
a special place in my heart
for my family.
The love among our siblings was the greatest wealth of our childhood.
But when I sat on the throne after my father passed away,
everything changed.
The same siblings who grew up on my lap,
who used to be happy with my toys,
today, their egos are not satisfied
with all the wealth bestowed upon them.
Now they have eyes on that
which has been built with my blood.
This throne.
This Mughal empire.
This country.
But, instead of judging their deeds
I tried to listen to the voice of their hearts.
They might be right.
Can only he who is the first born
have a right to the throne?
I pray...
That the same animosity not befall my sons.
That is why I have made a decision today.
Henceforth...
the successor to the Mughal throne
will be chosen basis competence
And not birth
The final decision shall rest with me.
The throne will belong to
the one who is the most competent
amongst the three of you.
Your Highness, this war over the throne
will end the relationship amongst the brothers.
Is this decision correct in such a situation?
Are you worried about my sons?
No.
I am recalling the prophecy of Sheikh Salim Chisti.
You have to be wary of those you least expect.
Perhaps he was talking about my worthless brother
It is possible. But,
Even so, is it a risk worth taking?
It is I who brought this empire to heal
My sons will bring me no grief.
Your Highness,
for a strong empire, it is important to have a stable family.
This race for the throne
shouldn't weaken the family.
Until my kingship is strong like a wall,
my family will also remain strong, Mahesh Das.
Pardon me, Your Highness.
But a loose brick is enough...
to topple a wall.
I know the emperor wanted to put fire into their bellies
but I fear, they aren't ready
No.
It'll be a mistake to underestimate the three of them.
Especially Salim.
You'll obviously side with Salim,
he's your son, after all.
Yes, he's my son, but also the most competent of them all.
So competent,
that he's high day and night clinging to his concubines.
At least he's not ill-tempered and a coward like his brothers.
They all have their strengths and their weaknesses.
They'll learn.
They're still young.
But I was even younger than them,
when I sat on the throne.
You're right, my King.
You gained an empire but lost your childhood.
I hope your kids don't get deprived of this happiness.
If one aspires to become an emperor,
then one must be willing to give up the warm embrace of childhood.
Will you join us for a game, my Emperor?
No, some other time.
Looks like he is off to meet his dear love.
I know the way ahead.
Yes, Your Highness.
Wonderful!
A dance for me?
This empire is yours.
Everything is yours.
Then why did you stop?
You love dancing, don't you?
When I dance, my thoughts dance along with me.
Otherwise, this loneliness is unbearable.
What loneliness? I'm here with you.
Just like a lion and a deer.
I'm not going to hunt you down Anarkali.
I only want
you to be happy.
If you really wished that I wouldn't have been here.
Anarkali, you don't understand,
how difficult it is to set you free!
What's difficult for you?
- You're ashamed. - Anarkali--
You can't be absolved of the sins you've committed.
but, you can hide them
from yourself and from the world,
by locking me up in this cage.
My wounds will live with me till my last breath.
They are never going to get erased.
I am sorry to hear...
that this is how you feel.
But what has happened
can't be changed even by me.
What do you think?
Keeping you in here makes me happy?
It is important to hide your existence.
You will have to bear this pain for the sake of the empire.
That's what I've been doing in this cage since I was a 14-year-old.
Then in order to forget this pain
compose something beautiful.
As you wish.
The talks of a new emperor have just started,
but the entire court has started grouping up.
Bets will be placed when there's a race of horses.
I can see Prince Daniyal winning.
How so?
He's religious, God serving,
reads his prayers five times a day.
This empire needs an emperor
who will eradicate the line between the kingdom and religion.
And in the path to worship God, also worships you.
Isn't it?
The one who worships the almighty
materialistic things have no value for him, Abul Fazl.
Allah has chosen me
to ensure his words are followed through in this empire.
You asked about mine
but who are you worshipping? Yourself?
No ones.
I don't need to blandish anyone.
Whatever I get from the Emperor is enough for me.
But the Emperor is about to be changed.
Right?
If the right person doesn't sit on the throne,
our days will be numbered, Abul Fazl.
I will spend my days worshipping God.
What will you do, Abul Fazl?
You don't have to worry about me.
I know well...
when to pull the strings.
Abul Fazl
It was a fine move by the emperor
But I don't think...
these princes born with golden spoons
are in a hurry to prove themselves.
- Did you like it, my prince? - It's fantastic.
Thank you, Sayyid.
This is a weapon fit for an emperor.
You're yet to become an emperor, Prince Murad.
But when the time comes,
you'll find the army standing with you.
There's no one as brave as you.
I'll take your leave now.
Prince Murad, it's time for your political education.
Why am I learning useless things?
These are the Emperor's orders.
Go tell the Emperor, there is nothing more important than knowing how to wield a sword.
Prince Murad, a day will come when the Emperor
will also leave this world.
When that day comes,
don't you want to become the next emperor?
- Of course. - Of course?
Then you must prove to Emperor Akbar
that you are not just capable of violence and war
but an expert in all fields.
You must learn discipline and
compassion as well
You're getting good at the language.
- Don't forget your own. - Thank you.
Your information was correct.
- Grand Vizier. - Erkhis.
You scared me half to death
You're the one who asked me to keep an eye out.
I asked you to keep an eye out, not to spy on me.
Is it dead?
No my lord, temporarily sedated.
I don't get it.
The throne is your birthright.
Your father snatches it away, and yet you don't care.
Why worry Durjan? This is an opportunity.
What opportunity are you talking about?
Just drink your wine and talk less.
Sure.
Come my child.
Great job! Excellent!
Come on! Keep going!
Today I'm free from the throne that was after me
like an ugly concubine Durjan.
Come on!
You're becoming part horse in the company of horses.
I have to become a horse if I have to keep everyone happy.
- Prince Salim. - Itimad?
You have been summoned again.
Come on.
What does my father want from me?
Hold your breath.
This time..
it's the queen.
I will have to leave my friend.
I've been asked for in my mother's court.
Come on!
Leave us alone for a while.
But I've been ordered to be with the Prince, my Queen.
I need to speak to my son alone.
Didn't you hear?
It's an order.
- But the Emperor-- - I'm the wife of the same Emperor!
If he finds out,
he'll behead me.
He'll never know.
Don't worry.
Where are you taking me?
This palace has many secrets you aren't aware of Salim.
Salim you are the true heir to your fathers throne
But your line to the throne is in jeopardy
The Emperor is questioning the way you are living your life.
You will have to change Salim.
You must prove to the emperor that you are worthy of the throne
This throne and empire!
I couldn't care less.
I'm satisfied with whatever I'm getting from this inheritance.
You have to become the emperor, not just an heir.
How long will you survive on the crumbs of the royal treasury?
Mother!
Salim.
You have to be ready before your brothers make a move.
They can do whatever they want Mother.
Let them squabble for the scraps he throws at them.
Poetry, music, and love...
that's all I need.
It's not just about you.
You are the first Mughal mixed with a Rajput bloodline.
You can become the greatest emperor of Hindustan.
And what will I have to do to become the greatest emperor of Hindustan?
Will I have to destroy people's lives?
The throne you want me to sit on, destroys everything.
Love, humanity, nothing is left.
Let me be a human.
Don't make me a stone-hearted emperor.
My Queen.
Salim.
There's nothing there for you.