Jodhaa Akbar 2008

As the Mughal dynasty took root in India, a succession of powerful leaders rose to prominence. Babur’s vision was followed by Humanyun’s reign, and eventually, Akbar emerged as the first emperor born on Indian soil in 1555. However, the sudden demise of Humayun set off a power struggle that would test the mettle of the Mughal empire.

Hemu, a formidable warrior, seized control of Delhi after Humayun’s passing, leaving Bairam Khan, Akbar’s loyal general, to devise a plan to reclaim the throne. With a force twice the size of the Mughals’, Bairam Khan cleverly orchestrated a battle strategy that would scatter Hemu’s troops and pave the way for victory at Panipat. As the dust settled, Bairam Khan executed Hemu, much to Akbar’s dismay.

Following this triumph, Bairam Khan set out to consolidate the Mughal empire by dispatching emissaries to all the kings of Hindustan. Their royal decrees instructed these monarchs to surrender their treasuries and pay homage to the Mughals, or face the wrath of the Mughal army. While some accepted this new order, many refused, sparking a series of battles that would define the future of India.

As Akbar matured into a young man, he led his armies into combat, refusing to exact brutal revenge upon defeated kings. This unexpected display of compassion and mercy resonated with these monarchs, leading them to favorably consider submitting to Mughal rule. Under Akbar’s guidance, Bairam Khan was eventually retired and dispatched to Mecca.

Meanwhile, the kingdom of Amer was abuzz with intrigue. Jodhaa, the daughter of Raja Bharmal, was betrothed to Rajkumar Ratan Singh, but her father announced that his son, Bhagwant Das, would inherit the throne. Sujamal, Jodhaa’s cousin and rightful heir, seethed with resentment at being overlooked for the throne, which had originally belonged to him. He abandoned his kingdom to join rebels led by Sharifuddin Hussain, Akbar’s brother-in-law, who sought to claim the entire Kingdom of Hindustan in exchange for Amer.

As Sharifuddin forges a path towards conflict with Amer, Raja Bharmal is compelled to proffer an olive branch, proposing a union between his daughter and the emperor himself as a means of avoiding war. Akbar (played by Hrithik Roshan) concurs with the marriage, recognizing that it would forge a robust alliance and usher in a era of lasting peace between the Mughals and Rajputs, thereby realizing his vision of a unified Hindustan under Mughal dominion. However, this development precipitates a rift between Bharmal and the other monarchs of Rajputana, including Rana Uday Singh (Surendra Pal).

Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai), the reluctant bride-to-be, is appalled by her reduced status as a pawn in the game of politics. She yearns to marry Ratan Singh, a local Rajput prince, but instead finds herself bound to Akbar by ties of matrimony. In desperation, she pours out her anguish to her mother, Rani Padmavati (Suhasini Mulay), who advises her to dispatch a servant girl in her stead. Jodhaa rebuffs this suggestion, aware that such deception would imperil their kingdom if discovered.

Instead, she confides in her mother about the impending doom and receives a vial of poison as a means of self-preservation. Her maternal instincts are piqued by the prospect of Akbar’s discovery, which could prove fatal to their realm. Jodhaa demands an audience with the emperor and negotiates for the right to maintain her Hindu faith and the construction of a temple within the palace walls. To her surprise, Akbar acquiesces to her demands.

As they exchange vows, Jodhaa’s reluctance is palpable, and the couple’s union remains unconsummated. The emperor reassures her that time will reveal its own course. Upon their relocation to the Agra fort, Jodhaa is welcomed by Akbar’s mother, Malika Hamida Banu Begum (Poonam Sinha).

However, not everyone in the palace is enamored with Jodhaa’s presence. Maham Anga (Ila Arun), Akbar’s nurse and nanny, harbors a deep-seated resentment towards the new queen. She conspires to humiliate Jodhaa before her husband, sowing discord within their relationship.

Todar Mal (Pramod Moutho) serves as finance minister, while Saadir Adaasi (Vishwa Mohan Badola), the religious head of Islam, is incensed by Akbar’s decision to permit Jodhaa’s temple. He demands that she be excluded from all public areas within the fort.

Meanwhile, Adham Khan (Shaji Chaudhary), Akbar’s foster brother, seethes with anger at being passed over for the role of prime minister. However, Akbar remains resolute in his decision, deeming Adham unfit to rule due to his history of plundering and sexual misconduct.

As Sharifuddin’s inability to assist Sujamal prompts an alliance between Ratan Singh and Uday Singh, a subtle transformation takes place within the palace walls. Jodhaa and Akbar begin to learn from each other, fostering a profound respect that transcends their initial union of convenience. The Mughal emperor demonstrates his admiration by hosting a majestic Rajputana feast in Jodhaa’s honor, and she, in turn, insists on preparing the meal herself. Anga’s discontentment with this development boils over when she belittles Jodhaa by forcing her to taste the food before serving it to Akbar, but the emperor’s chivalrous insistence that he share the same plate as his queen saves the day.

Meanwhile, Adham’s treachery is revealed as he secretly siphons taxes from his provinces. When Shamsuddin Ataga Khan, the then-Premier (Raza Murad), discovers this deceit, Adham brutally murders him and launches a surprise attack on Akbar. However, the emperor proves to be more than a match for Adham in hand-to-hand combat, ultimately condemning the traitor to death.

Anguished by her son’s demise, Anga becomes embroiled in a sinister plot to discredit Jodhaa. She orchestrates the dispatch of a letter and poison vial written by Jodhaa, allowing her to manipulate Akbar into believing that his queen has conspired with Sujamal to assassinate him. This treachery is further compounded when Anga insinuates that Jodhaa still harbors feelings for Ratan Singh and is using her supposed assassin skills to eliminate the emperor.

Enraged by this perceived betrayal, Akbar orders the arrest of Sujamal, who, mistakenly believing Jodhaa has framed him, flees in panic. The emperor’s subsequent banishment of Jodhaa is a direct result of his misplaced trust, as he questions her character and loyalty.

As the truth slowly unravels, Hamida reveals to Akbar that Sujamal was indeed the intended meeting partner, not Ratan Singh. Confronted by this revelation, Akbar refuses to grant Anga an audience, instead choosing to visit Jodhaa’s maternal home to apologize for his earlier treatment of her. Although she initially rejects his overtures, he later discovers her proficiency in fencing and engages in a lighthearted duel with her.

Jodhaa seizes this opportunity to impart valuable counsel upon the emperor, urging him to investigate the inner workings of his relationships and empire. Heeding her words, Akbar assumes a disguise and ventures among his people, seeking to better understand their struggles and improve his governance.

As Akbar’s reign continues to flourish, he astutely navigates the delicate balance between Hindu and Muslim factions by publicly affirming the equal rights of all religions within his empire. This bold move earns him a newfound respect from Jodhaa (Bipasha Basu), who becomes reacquainted with her husband after witnessing the sincerity of his intentions. Meanwhile, Sharifuddin (Nikitin Dheer), working in tandem with Saadir Adaasi, seethes over Akbar’s abolition of the pilgrim tax and orders a clandestine assassination attempt on the emperor’s life. Although Akbar suffers an injury, he miraculously survives, prompting Rana Singh and Ratan Singh to abandon Sujamal in order to avoid attracting the ire of the Mughal army.

Sujamal, Sharifuddin Hussain (Nikitin Dheer), and his cohorts launch a surprise attack on Amer, prompting Akbar to mobilize his forces and intercept Sharifuddin at Mewat. He extends an olive branch, inviting Sharifuddin to engage in negotiations. However, Sujamal, privy to Sharifuddin’s plan for a silent coup through one of his trusted spies, hastens to warn Akbar of this treachery (his sole motivation being the desire to spare Jodhaa from widowhood). Upon learning that Bharmal has pledged a portion of Amer to Sujamal, Sharifuddin becomes hell-bent on preventing this news from reaching his adversary. As Sujamal flees to alert Akbar, he is pursued and brutally slain by Sharifuddin’s army.

In the aftermath of Sujamal’s demise, Sharifuddin’s forces converge on the emperor, only for Akbar to intervene and soundly defeat him in hand-to-hand combat. Rather than exacting revenge, Akbar chooses to spare Sharifuddin’s life at the behest of his half-sister, Bakshi Banu Begum (Abir Abrar), stripping him of his title as Viceroy of Ajmer and Nagaur.

Ultimately, Akbar proclaims that a peaceful and prosperous Hindustan can only be achieved when its people honor and respect each other’s religious beliefs. As the narrative draws to a close, it is Jodhaa and Akbar who etch their names in history through their unwavering devotion to one another, yet this monumental love becomes forgotten amidst the passage of time.