02x01 - Return of The Bandit Prince

[bunniefuu]

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 w*r.

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.

[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.

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 k*lled, mother.

Why are you so afraid brother

[Mehr-un-Nissa] It's the
emperor's birth anniversary.

He won't k*ll 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.

[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 w*r 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 ex*cuted.

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.