Jodhaa-Akbar

Jodhaa-Akbar (Hindi: जोधा-अकबर, Urdu: جودھا اکبر) is a forthcoming film, to be released in 2008. It is being directed and produced by Ashutosh Gowariker, the director of Oscar-nominated Lagaan. It stars Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles. This film also represents the debut of newcomer Abir Abrar. Extensive research has gone into the making of this film which begun shooting at Karjat.

The film centers around the romance between the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the founder of Din-i-Ilahi, played by Hrithik Roshan and his Hindu wife, Jodhabai, played by Aishwarya. The music will be composed by acclaimed music composer, 'The Mozart Of Asia' A. R. Rahman. The soundtrack of the movie is to be released on January 18, 2008 . This movie is scheduled for release on January 25, 2008 (TBC).

In reality Akbar's wife was never known as Jodhabai. The use of the name Jodhabi appears to have been a 19th century mistake^.

 Her real name was Hira-kunwari before marriage and after marriage she was known as Mariam-uz-Zamani. While this name change is debatable, Jodha, however, remained Hindu for the rest of her life she was married to Akbar.

According to history and some historical texts, Akbar actually did meet Jodha before they were married. It was Akbar who proposed to her father for her hand in marriage to create an alliance and also because he somehow became very fond of her. Akbar had more than 300 wives, many of them Rajput princesses.