Aging emperor Akbar is weighed down by the worry of picking the one who will eventually sit on his Peacock Throne, with his sons at daggers drawn, and the battle of succession intensifies in ZEE5’s Taj: Reign of Revenge. The sequel picks up the story of the Mughal empire 15 years after the events of the first season, Taj: Divided by Blood, which had set the stage for a ruthless fight in the future between emperor Akbar’s three sons.
With Naseeruddin Shah holding fort as Akbar, the second season of this historical drama retains the stunning visual design and template of a complicated story of power, politics and palace intrigues with dollops of romance and revenge and some bloodshed.
In Taj: Reign of Revenge, Prince Salim, the eldest son of Akbar and heir to the throne, is older but is still coming to terms with the death of his beloved Anarkali (Aditi Rao Hydari). Salim — played with necessary flamboyance by Aashim Gulati — is now besotted by the beautiful Mehrunissa, and their complex relationship is one of the highlights of this season.
It is yet another star-crossed romance, and the chemistry between Aashim Gulati’s Salim and Sauraseni Mitra, the Tollywood actress who plays Mehrunissa, is palpable. If the Salim-Anarkali love story steered much of Divided by Blood, the Salim-Mehrunissa pairing becomes a powerful cog in the wheel in Reign of Revenge, dominated as it is by the issue of succession.
Although Salim is not keen on becoming the next ruler, Mehrunnisa urges him to stay on in the race. Salim’s younger brother Daniyal (Shubham Kumar Mehra) — a strong contender for the throne after the tragic death of Akbar’s second son Murad (Taaha Shah) in the previous season — is in no mood to give up his hopes. Salim’s sons Khurram (Mitansh Lulla) and Khusrav (Jiansh Aggarwal) are also being groomed by their grandfather as prospective monarchs.
On the side, Abul Fazal (Pankaj Saraswat) and Badayun (Aayam Mehta) continue with their machinations to install the prince of their choice to the throne, while Akbar’s wives and concubines — Jodha Bai (Sandhya Mridul), Salima (Zarina Wahab) and Ruqaiya (Padma Damodaran) — too pull the strings from the inner chambers to ensure their offspring’s interests.
With so many players vying for the Mughal throne, the storyline is filled with intricate plots and unlikely alliances at every bend. The narrative skillfully weaves historical events with fictional elements, making it an engrossing watch, though some episodes could have been tighter to keep the momentum going. There is far less action in Reign of Revenge compared to the first season but more attention to detail in recreating the lavish palaces, elaborate costumes and the vibrant Mughal court.
Both the seasons of Taj ride on the strong performances by its ensemble cast. Aashim Gulati brings depth and nuance to the character of Salim, a lovelorn prince seeking stability and peace. Sauraseni Maitra’s Mehrunnisa fills the void left behind by Anarkali, by blending the charm of a lovestruck young woman with the shrewdness and reserve of royalty.
Of course Naseeruddin Shah lends the series the seriousness it needs with his calibrated performance as Akbar, a powerful man beyond his prime. And it’s a pleasure to watch Dharmendra as Shaikh Salim Chishti, who warns Akbar of the impending crisis in the Mughal empire and offers sage advice. Among the new characters introduced this season, Mehrunnisa’s husband Ali Quli (Rouhallah Quazim) might remind you of the vicious Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones.
