I am Jalaluddin Mohammad.
History will know me as Akbar.
Glory to God! Glory to God!
I have built the throne and Mughal empire with my blood.
So today, I have taken a decision.
The heir to the Mughal throne,
will be selected based on his competency.
There is enough space in the empire for all three brothers.
There will be reign.
But I will be the sole ruler.
I spent my whole life as a jester.
From today, my words will be heard.
Salim, you are the true heir of the throne.
You have to be a king and not a landlord.
Mother.
Whenever the ocean will turn red,
the Mughal's blood will be shed.
The true heir will ascend the throne of Hindustan.
Attack!
You are sullying the land with your blood,
I have come to take it back from you.
I am not meant to be an emperor.
All I want is a lover.
I can renounce the throne for you.
The path to the throne will not lead you to me.
Then I will change the path.
Don't ever forget,
who you belong to.
It's a royal custom.
Make the royal heirs fight among themselves.
And become the ruler.
I will plant a seed,
which will bear fruit even after the emperor.
You have all the capabilities of a king.
It's about responsibility.
I have never seen it in Salim.
There is only one punishment for this crime. Death penalty.
You will be buried in the palace walls,
alive.
Our family is so grand and noble.
We either fight or wage a war.
Today I will put an end to it.
Sir, what to do of the body?
Bury it.
One needs to endure some pain in love.
To hell with everything.
I will definitely find my Anarkali.
Thereafter,
revenge.
[Akbar] History and destiny are not for emperors to command.
[Akbar] The Mughal empire has expanded from Bengal to Kabul
[Akbar] and from Kashmir to Deccan.
[Akbar] And it has also widened the rift in our relations.
[Akbar] I prayed hard day and night and was blessed with children.
[Akbar] Three sons.
[Akbar] But not a single suitable heir.
I, the conqueror of the world but defeated by my children,
the unfortunate sultan, Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar.
Am returning today to seek refuge with my benefactor Sheikh Salim Chisti.
Jalal.
Yes.
So the prophecy came true?
Yes. It did.
The waters turned red.
I had three sons.
I unified religions and restored calm to the empire,
but the cost has been great
and the future remains uncertain.
I don't know which path to choose.
Which path do you seek now?
If it's a righteous path you seek Jalal,
then He will guide you.
And you will build your own path.
That's the law of nature.
Will my Empire fall after me?
Its Hindustan that worries me.
After you have perished,
A wind from the west will blow across these lands.
Winds that will raze everything to the ground including the Mughal empire.
Everything.
Is there nothing I can do?
Jalal, to ensure your legacy,
you must face the ghosts
of your past.
Your single mistake made Salim a rebel.
You must bring him back.
He is the true successor to the empire.
As you wish.
[Announcer] Hear ye! Hear ye!
[Announcer] Taxes must be paid by tonight.
[Announcer] If any businessman has any complaints,
then he can meet Amal Guzar.
- [Announcer] Remember, today is the last day - [Amal Guzar] Do you need to be told separately.
to pay your taxes.
[Amal Guzar] It should be all here.
[Amal Guzar] Stealing taxes is a crime.
[Amal Guzar] Don't you fear the emperor?
Why fear an emperor who builds his castles
from wealth snatched from his starving subjects?
Hand over that wealth you robbed as taxes.
[Mahabat Khan] Do I need to coax it out of you?
This isn't right.
[Amal Guzar] These taxes are for the emperor and no one else!
The Emperor will have your heads for this.
A cruel emperor who toys with his subjects,
wouldn't be surprised if he beheads them.
Give him my salutation.
Who are you?
Prince Salim.
[Salim] Comrades, bring that chest of coins.
[Man Singh] Your Highness, under your rule,
[Man Singh] we've been flourishing as the greatest empire in the world.
[Man Singh] But we are being surrounded by certain kingdoms
[Man Singh] that are worse than wild beasts in nature.
[Man Singh] These three regions still do not yield to our empire.
[Man Singh] Bakht-Un-Nissa Begum now rules Kandahar and Kabul.
Recently she has become hostile in nature.
She says there shall be no alliance until we lower the taxes for her people.
[Abul fazl] Guess she needs to be reminded, it was the emperor who gave her Kabul as a gift.
Your Highness, your sister has no loyalty.
Grand Vizer,
Begum Bakht-Un-Nissa is still distinct family.
What about Prince Salim?
Your Highness,
he's been robbing our tax money from us.
He's turned into a rebel himself.
But he's been pushing the subjects for a rebellion as well.
But your highness, our greatest issues lie with,
Amar Singh and his Rajputs in Mewar.
Our troops cannot cope with their guerrilla tactics.
Is there no scope for negotiations with them Grand Vizer?
Unfortunately not.
He is even more difficult than his father was.
One must never try to tame the beast himself.
The only solution is to set a bigger animal upon him.
We'll need the help of a certain rebel
to control Amar Singh,
who thinks like him.
Your Highness, do you have someone in mind?
[Bakht-Un-Nissa] Salim.
It's been a decade.
You have changed drastically.
The whole damn world's changed Aunty.
I had to.
New ways,
but same old attitude.
This...
It's the treasure the emperor took from you, as taxes.
I am returning it.
Tales of your generosity are known far and wide.
Now I have seen it for myself.
I am grateful...
Don't mistake this for my generosity.
I only seek revenge.
Revenge instilled by a cruel emperor.
That Emperor is your father.
He was my father.
Not anymore.
I'll be seeing you.
Salim.
You have a share in this treasure.
This treasure belongs to the subjects of Kabul.
You can give them my share too.
[Ruqaiya] If someone has true power
[Ruqaiya] they do not need to raise their voice.
Others will lean in to hear them whisper, Khusrau
A nod or a glance is all an emperor needs to show his approval, Khurram.
[Akbar] But remember...
[Khurram] Grandpa.
It's easier to announce a decision, compared to making one.
Grandfather.
I see you are teaching them the ways of the court.
One day they will need these skills.
Very true. Who better to teach them than you.
Take a guess,
how much are the silks?
Ruqaiya got them especially from China.
Used to be two golden coins for a single spool.
One golden coin for two spools.
What?
I must admit
she is an excellent negotiator.
[Akbar] I see you are shopping.
Jodha a word with you.
What about?
Salim.
Did you find her?
- Found anything? - No Chief.
- Tabrez. - Nothing chief.
Barkat...
Nothing chief.
Prince Salim.
I heard.
Maybe she was buried someplace else.
I can never forget these woods Mahabat.
She is here.
How long will you keep looking for her?
Until my last breath.
Until I don't find Anarkali's remains.
Find her.
Prince Daniyal.
[Daniyal] What?
[Daniyal] Why would he bring Salim back?
Does my Father want to destroy the kingdom before I can inherit it?
Do not fret my Prince.
Even if the Emperor wished the kingdom ruined,
your spiteful brother would not be able to ruin this Empire.
Oh he would.
Just to spite me he can go to any extent.
Matters are complicated enough dealing with the litter he left behind,
let alone the rat himself.
He can be handled.
How?
By doing what we always do.
Align our allies, destroy your enemies.
Ensure your rights to the throne are maintained.
[Anarkali] Salim.
My quest is just grave and soil.
Even if you find it, what's the use?
Salim's Anarkali cannot be buried like that.
I will build a beautiful tomb.
It will be the symbol of our love.
Those who believe in love
will pay their respects.
Is this your and the Mughal empire's future?
Fulfil your destiny Salim.
Ascend the throne. Be an emperor.
Establish peace and harmony in the empire and write your own destiny.
You will conquer the whole world.
You will be Jahangir.
Jahangir.
Prince Salim.
[Soldier] Surround them. Surround them.
Alert.
Stay back.
Declare your business in these hills!
We have been sent by Emperor Akbar...
to find the one.
Who?
Salim.
There is no Salim in these parts,
now leave whilst you still can.
It would take more than a fistful of bandits to turn me around.
For you, one of us is more than enough
[Jodha] Salim.
The Emperor can fight his own battles.
I won't go to Mewar.
Not even for me?
- Your sons? - They are his now.
Salim, he is your father. You are still his blood.
And if I could drain every drop of him from me, I would.
Salim.
You no longer have the glow on your face that I once adored.
Neither have you.
Time has been hard on both of us.
Come home Salim.
No mother.
Not now.
I cannot return now.
If I do return, dead bodies will carpet the floor.
You will gain nothing from fighting.
He wants reconciliation with you.
How do I know it is not a trap?
Because I would not be part of it.
Would I be involved in such a deception?
Come home Salim.
For my sake.
[Asaf Khan] Hurry up Mehr-un-Nissa.
[Asaf Khan] We might miss the celebrations.
[Asmat Begum] Wait and watch Asaf.
A new moon will sparkle in the skies of the empire tonight.
Marvellous.
You look just like a princess.
What do you mean?
I am a princess.
Slow down Mehr.
The emperor has his ears everywhere.
[Mehr-un-Nissa] Let him hear.
[Mehr-un-Nissa] Am I lying?
[Mehr-un-Nissa] Mother.
Is our family lesser to the Mughals in any respect?
Mehr.
Those days are gone dear.
If the emperor hadn't given us refuge, we...
[Mehr-un-Nissa] The wheel of time keeps turning.
They might rule the present.
But the future will be ours.
Fantastic.
Daughter of a Vizer,
but attitude of a queen.
Wait and watch.
I will prove every word I said.
She won't stop until we are all killed, mother.
Why are you so afraid brother
[Mehr-un-Nissa] It's the emperor's birth anniversary.
He won't kill you today.
[Mehr-un-Nissa] Shall we?
Otherwise we will miss the celebrations.
[Salima] Even though he has been raised by me,
[Salima] Daniyal's life is a mystery.
[Salima] For a man who calls himself devout,
[Salima] he does seem to revel in his vices.
Which is why we chose wisely with Khusrau.
Though Khurram is better behaved.
He is just like his father, thinks too much.
[Jodha] You talk like Salim is dead.
Once he returns,
he will take his rightful place on the throne.
Stop dreaming about Salim's coronation Jodha.
Akbar may take mercy on him
but he will never make him emperor.
[Darbari] Wonderful!
[Darbari] Great!
[Darbari] Marvellous.
Our strength lies in our ability to rise to any challenge
and prove that the Mughal Kingdom is not only the most powerful in India
but the whole world.
[Salim] I could not agree more.
Welcome Salim.
Father.
Late as usual son.
The right to call me son has been lost by you, My Emperor.
No doubt that the empire you rule,
is majestic and noble.
Though I disagree with one thing.
The true power of this kingdom is built on treachery and back biting.
Warriors do not die noble deaths in this land,
but are stabbed in the back by cowards from the shadows.
I had heard my father was an uncouth,
now I've seen it for myself.
Apologise to the emperor.
Don't speak amongst elders Khusrau.
I see your tongue is still too quick for your own good.
My sword is even quicker,
And If anybody is eager to test me, I will happily oblige.
[Akbar] Save your strength for the enemies.
I have a proposition for you.
I know what you seek.
You want to use me to control the tiger of Mewar
And that is entirely unacceptable to me.
As I sympathize with Amar Singh.
Prince Salim.
You side with the enemy?
[Salim] The one who understands pain doesn't differentiate between friends and enemies.
[Salim] The court won't understand this.
[Salim] Consider this my birthday present to you.
[Salim] I've managed to make a pact with Begum Bakht-Un-Nissa which you failed to do.
[Salim] She has agreed for 10% of the taxes.
I never said I was not interested in your proposal,
but if I were to help, I would do things my way.
Ruqaiya.
You may not like it but,
you cannot refute what he did.
[Salima] Salim made a deal where no one else could.
What Salim did to our husband can never be forgiven.
[Ruqaiya] Salim cannot be trusted.
His anger still burns.
Salim has fortified the sultanate.
Not just his sons
but many people in the empire could learn from him.
Often the lamps that light the palace burn it down Jodha.
The empire cannot handle another betrayal.
[Asaf Khan] Do you not find the emperor's move a gamble father?
[Ghiyas Beg] Of course,
but a true leader needs to take risks.
[Asmat Begum] Mehr-un-Nissa
[Mehr-un-Nissa] Coming.
Still. You must be fearful of the consequences if Salim should return?
You should be careful.
Asaf I trust in the Emperor
You trust in a man who gets advice from the stars?
Do not mock the emperor.
He has given us a better life.
A life of servitude?
A life of opportunity...
And you think the same opportunities
will still be there after he dies.
Absolutely.
[Ghiyas Beg] Whoever the emperor chooses as his heir
I will show them just as much faith as I did him.
And what if he chooses Salim as his heir?
Then he will be my Emperor.
[Salim] He said
I should apologise
My own blood.
We should have come with you into the palace.
No Mahabat, I wanted Emperor Akbar to know,
I do not fear him.
There are better places to drink.
Yes.
But they do not have such good company.
And what brings you to a lowly place like this?
I saw your performance at the palace,
and wanted to meet the man who would defy Emperor Akbar.
Have we met before?
Don't you remember?
For that I need to see your face.
Forget it.
Think of me as your sympathiser.
I already have a few of those.
But Prince Salim,
they do not have ears in the counsel.
And what would you gain from putting yourself in such danger?
Me? Nothing.
But the empire...
Everything.
The empire?
How so?
I want to ensure the next emperor...
The next Emperor is worthy of the throne.
[Mehr-un-Nissa] Not someone who could be manipulated.
The next in line are nothing but puppets.
Whether the strings are pulled by the Mosque or the queens.
Which of the puppets is favoured?
Some say Daniyal.
Some say the sons of Salim...
Others say you were the best suited,
before you left.
And what do you say?
So long my Prince.
Mehr...
[Man Singh] Prince Salim is no monk.
[Man Singh] He is nothing more than a savage.
A savage who can get things done.
Persuading Bakht-Un-Nissa to accept a ten percent cut of their taxes
which only Salim could achieve.
Who gave him the right to negotiate for us?
[Ghiyas Beg] Nobody.
But under the circumstances this may prove to be a wise decision.
[Ghiyas Beg] Is that right, Raja Todar Mal?
No doubt.
Giving a tax break to our subjects would save war expenses,
and also ensure their trust in us.
[Daniyal] Why don't we just handover the empire to him.
How can you think about including Salim in our matters?
How can we forget the destruction he caused?
For which he has paid dearly.
It is time to make peace with him.
Let go of our past mistakes.
The only thing I will let go of is
his head once I have cut it from his neck.
Maybe Salim was right.
Maybe we do sacrifice the real warriors to protect the weak.
Is he still camping outside the city?
Yes your highness.
With a hundred men. Maybe two.
Then I shall go to him.
Last night he proved he was not intimidated.
Now I shall do the same.
[Mahabat Khan] Prince Salim! Your father approaches with his escort.
Good.
That means
he fears us.
This is a dangerous game you play.
Who said I was playing Mahabat?
[Akbar] For that performance at court
A lifetime ago I would have had you executed.
You wanted me to return.
Here I am.
But why so belligerent?
[Akbar] I believe you don't want to return.
I would rather return to God than to you.
What if I want to return to you?
It was I who decided to release Anarkali.
Do you know that?
You have taken many decisions under the cover of darkness...
Your Highness,
for your ulterior motives.
Salim.
When will you ever change?
After I am dead?
When will you learn to stand
and fight rather than run?
I have never run from anyone.
Really?
You ran from Daniyal when he came for his mother.
You fled and left her to die.
Who told you this?
Daniyal?
And Badayuni.
You believe him over your son?
Son--
Maybe you are telling the truth.
But who are you running from now?
We can try again to be a family.
What about Anarkali?
Would you let me avenge her?
Salim...
Revenge will destroy you
before it destroys your enemies.
Who is giving me this advice?
A concerned father?
or an emperor?
If you mend your ways, then it is a concerned father.
Otherwise...
It's the emperor.
I have raided father's treasury.
Prince has to be taught a lesson.
This is the right time
to create history.
With whom does your loyalty lie?
We have a spy amongst us.
I'll drag him from the kingdom.
Are you still scared?
I will slay you.
Men believe that army,
makes them powerful.
But the real power lies,
with the one who rules their hearts.
Now it will be our era.
This was his conspiracy.
Now I will create a havoc.
Now there will be bloodshed.
Fire.