Taj: Divided by Blood is a Hindi historical drama centred on Emperor Akbar, his family and the struggle over succession to the Mughal throne. Rather than presenting court history as a straightforward chronicle, the series uses palace rivalries, romance, ambition and betrayal to build a dramatic account of the conflict among Akbar’s heirs.
Naseeruddin Shah plays Emperor Akbar, with Aashim Gulati as Prince Salim, Aditi Rao Hydari as Anarkali, Taha Shah Badussha as Prince Murad and Shubham Kumar Mehra as Prince Daniyal. The series premiered in 2023 and currently has two seasons with 18 episodes in total. It should be viewed as historical fiction: many characters are drawn from history, but conversations, relationships and several events are dramatised for the series.
Taj Web Series Cast
Naseeruddin Shah as Emperor Akbar
Naseeruddin Shah leads the series as Emperor Akbar. The ageing ruler faces one of the most difficult questions of his reign: which of his sons should inherit the Mughal throne. His decisions create tension inside the royal family and turn the succession question into the main political conflict of the series.
Aashim Gulati as Prince Salim
Aashim Gulati plays Prince Salim, Akbar’s eldest surviving son and the future Emperor Jahangir. Salim is shown as emotional, rebellious and frequently at odds with his father. His relationship with Anarkali becomes a major part of the first season, while the second season follows his return from exile and renewed battle for power.
Aditi Rao Hydari as Anarkali
Aditi Rao Hydari plays Anarkali, whose relationship with Salim becomes one of the emotional centres of Season 1. Her presence intensifies the conflict between Salim and Akbar and gives the royal succession story a tragic romantic dimension.
Taha Shah Badussha as Prince Murad
Taha Shah Badussha appears as Prince Murad, one of Akbar’s sons competing for influence and recognition. Murad is presented as a strong warrior whose ambitions and temperament place him in direct competition with his brothers.
Shubham Kumar Mehra as Prince Daniyal
Shubham Kumar Mehra plays Prince Daniyal, Akbar’s younger son. Daniyal’s desire to prove himself and secure his place in the succession becomes more important as the first season progresses. In Season 2, his hopes of becoming emperor bring him into sharper conflict with Salim.
Rahul Bose as Mirza Hakim
Rahul Bose plays Mirza Muhammad Hakim, Akbar’s half-brother. His character brings another layer of family rivalry to the drama and becomes closely involved in the political struggle surrounding the Mughal court.
Sandhya Mridul as Jodha Bai
Sandhya Mridul appears as Jodha Bai, Akbar’s queen and Salim’s mother. She is frequently caught between her responsibilities as a royal figure and her concern for her son, particularly when Salim’s actions bring him into conflict with Akbar.
Zarina Wahab as Salima Sultan Begum
Zarina Wahab plays Salima Sultan Begum. She is one of the senior women of the royal household and often acts as a stabilising presence amid the rivalries and emotional conflicts inside the palace.
Dharmendra as Sheikh Salim Chishti
Dharmendra appears as the revered Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti. His character serves as a spiritual adviser to Akbar and appears at important moments when the emperor is troubled by questions of succession, family and destiny.
Sauraseni Maitra as Mehrunnisa
Sauraseni Maitra plays Mehrunnisa, who becomes particularly important in Season 2. Her growing connection with Salim and her ambition within the royal court place her at the centre of the next phase of the succession struggle.
Other notable cast members include:
- Padma Damodaran as Ruqaiya Begum
- Pankaj Saraswat as Abul Fazl
- Subodh Bhave as Birbal
- Shivani Tanksale as Bakht-un-Nissa
- Digambar Prasad as Man Singh
- Deepraj Rana as Maharana Pratap
- Mitansh Lulla as Prince Khurram
- Jiansh Agarwal as Prince Khusrau
Taj Web Series Crew
Taj: Divided by Blood was created by Abhimanyu Singh and produced by Abhimanyu Singh and Roopali Singh. Ron Scalpello directed the 10 episodes of the first season, while Vibhu Puri directed the eight episodes of the second season. The writing team includes William Borthwick, Simon Fantauzzo, Christopher Butera, Anand Neelakantan and Ajay Singh.
- Creator: Abhimanyu Singh
- Directors: Ron Scalpello and Vibhu Puri
- Writers: William Borthwick, Simon Fantauzzo, Christopher Butera, Anand Neelakantan and Ajay Singh
- Producers: Abhimanyu Singh and Roopali Singh
- Production Company: Contiloe Pictures
- Music: Ian Arber
- Cinematography: Simon Temple and Tejal Shetye
- Editors: Irfan Shaikh, Gaurav Arora and Ben King
- Production Design: Omung Kumar
- Costume Design and Styling: Nisha Madani
Taj Web Series Story
The first season begins with Emperor Akbar searching for a successor. His sons Salim, Murad and Daniyal have very different personalities, strengths and ambitions, and the question of inheritance quickly divides the royal family.
Salim’s relationship with Anarkali becomes a direct challenge to the authority of the emperor. At the same time, Murad and Daniyal pursue their own claims, while advisers and members of the royal household form alliances around the possible heirs. Political pressure, military conflict and family resentment steadily turn the succession question into open hostility.
Season 2, titled Taj: Reign of Revenge, moves the story forward by 15 years. Salim returns after years of exile, while Daniyal expects to inherit the throne. Akbar, now older and increasingly uncertain about the future of his empire, again finds himself caught between rival heirs.
Mehrunnisa becomes a major figure in the second season and supports Salim as his struggle for power intensifies. Ruqaiya Begum, Abul Fazl and other court figures pursue their own interests, while the next generation, including Khurram and Khusrau, begins to enter the succession story. The season builds towards a battle over who will control the empire after Akbar.
How Many Seasons and Episodes Are There in Taj?
Taj currently has two seasons and 18 episodes in total.
Season 1, Taj: Divided by Blood, contains 10 episodes. All 10 episodes premiered on March 3, 2023.
Season 2, Taj: Reign of Revenge, contains eight episodes. The first four episodes were released on May 12, 2023, while the remaining four followed on June 2, 2023.
Taj OTT Platform and Release Date
Taj: Divided by Blood premiered on ZEE5 on March 3, 2023. The second season, Taj: Reign of Revenge, began streaming on the same platform on May 12, 2023.
As of September 2026, both seasons remain listed on ZEE5 in India. The platform offers the series in Hindi, with Tamil and Telugu audio options also listed. Streaming availability can change over time, so viewers should check the current catalogue before subscribing specifically for the series.
What Kind of Series Is Taj?
Taj is a historical-fiction drama built around succession, family rivalry and palace politics. Its scale comes from the Mughal setting, but its main dramatic engine is the conflict between Akbar and his sons, particularly Salim.
Viewers looking for strict documentary history should keep in mind that the series takes creative liberties. Its focus is on turning well-known historical figures and legends into a continuing palace drama involving romance, revenge, ambition and the struggle for the throne.
