01x01 - Succession

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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 sh**ting star too.

Which illuminated the silhouette of the
Commander General of Chittor, Jaimal.

I k*lled him there and then.

We k*lled 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 w*r, 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 a*s 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!

- 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 w*r?

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 w*r 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 m*rder 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 w*r?

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 w*r 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 w*r

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.