Set in the 16th century AD, the film follows the fate of Prince Saleem, son of Emperor Akbar, who meets the disapproval of his father when he falls for the beautiful, ill-fated court dancer Anarkali, whose fervor and intensity perpetrates a war.

A milestone in Indian cinema, this Shakespearean drama based on a play by Urdu playwright Imtiaz Ali Taj is alive with vibrant themes and startling color. Its dialogue is nothing short of poetic and its settings and characters are vividly imagined. An absolute gem of a film!