Achilles

Niraj: Ashutosh saab, how did the idea of Jodhaa-Akbar came? Although I don’t disagree that Akbar-The Great was a secular ruler but Jodhaa says not to force her to change her religion but Jodhaa was renamed Mariam-Ul-Zamani as per historical records. Also how Akbar nama commissioned by Akbar didn’t have mention of the name ‘Jodhaa’ Is there any historical reference to this scene you shot. Also is the Akbar asking Jodhaa to go back Amer after conspiracy based on historical facts?

Ashutosh Gowariker: Niraj, Marium-uz-Zamani was a title conferred on Jodhaa the day she gave birth to Salim aka Jahangir. Till then, she was referred to as the princess of Amer or Jodhaa. It was not a regular norm for the court writers to mention the women from the harem in the books, especially Akbarnama and hence the exclusions. The fact that Akbar allowed Jodhaa to keep her religion and built a temple for her, later abolished the Pilgrim Tax, and introduced so many Hindu customs in court, also included a lot of Hindu courtiers in court and finally, wanted to start his own religion in the belief that he can unify everyone under his philosophy of ‘Sul-e-Kul’ are reasons enough to believe that he was secular.

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