The film version of a popular historical legend follows Prince Salim (Pradeep Kumar) through a passionate love affair with a beautiful, sassy commoner (Bina Rai). As Salim rises to become the emperor -- a post he inherits from his father, Emperor Akbar (Mubarak), and his father's wife (Sulochana) -- he and his royal family must deal with a maelstrom of conflicting values, among them duty, honor and tradition.