Padmaavat

In the midst of 13th-century Afghanistan, Jalaluddin Khilji, the formidable ruler of the Khilji dynasty, sets his sights on seizing the throne of Delhi. Meanwhile, his nephew Alauddin Khilji, a cunning and ambitious prince, presents him with an unexpected gift: a full-grown ostrich, instead of the requested ostrich feathers. In return for this unusual offering, Alauddin requests Jalaluddin's daughter Mehrunisa's hand in marriage. The wedding arrangements are put into motion, but on the night of the ceremony, Alauddin's true nature is revealed when he engages in adultery with another woman, brutally silencing a courtier who had witnessed the act. As the news reaches Mehrunisa during the celebration, she is left reeling from the shocking revelation.

In a distant land, the beautiful Sinhala princess Padmavati, unaware of the world beyond her kingdom, mistakingly wounds Maharawal Ratan Singh, the charming Rajput ruler, while hunting in a forest. Taking pity on him, she brings him back to her home and nurses him back to health. As they spend more time together, their initial animosity gives way to a deep affection, and Ratan Singh asks for Padmavati's hand in marriage. With her father's consent, the two tie the knot.

As Jalaluddin seizes power in Delhi and dispatches Alauddin to repel a Mongol invasion, his nephew proves himself to be a formidable warrior, successfully defending the kingdom against all odds. However, Alauddin's thirst for conquest soon gets the better of him, and he launches an unauthorized attack on Devagiri, capturing its princess and making her his concubine after assassinating her husband. Jalaluddin's wife and nephew warn him about Alauddin's growing ambition to claim the throne, but their words fall on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, Padmavati and Ratan Singh journey to Mewar together, where they are blessed by the royal priest Raghav Chetan. However, when Chetan is caught observing the intimate moments shared between the couple, he is banished from the kingdom. Feeling betrayed, Chetan travels to Delhi and shares his concerns about Padmavati's beauty with Alauddin, who becomes obsessed with possessing something exceptional. When Alauddin invites the Rajputs to Delhi, they reject his offer, prompting him to lay siege to Ratan Singh's capital, Chittor.

Six months pass without success, and Alauddin feigns peace on account of Holi, gaining permission to enter Chittor. He requests an audience with Padmavati, but Ratan Singh is aware of Alauddin's true intentions. The Rajput ruler grants his request, but only for a brief moment, preventing Alauddin from catching a glimpse of her face.

As Ratan Singh's fate hangs precariously in the balance, he finds himself in the clutches of Alauddin, who demands an audience with Padmavati. The queen, persuaded by her mother-in-law Queen Nagmati, finally agrees to meet with the Sultan, but only after extracting a few concessions from him - namely, that she will first be reunited with her husband, and that Chetan will face justice for his transgressions. Alauddin, eager to please, readily agrees to these conditions, and Padmavati sets off on the long journey to Delhi to confront Khilji.

Meanwhile, a plot unfolds in the Sultanate's outer territories, where Alauddin's own nephew attempts to strike him down. However, the would-be assassin is thwarted, and his life is cut short by the very man he sought to harm. As Alauddin recovers from his wounds, Padmavati, along with Chittor's trusted generals Gora and Badal, sees an opportunity to free Ratan Singh from captivity. With the cunning Mehrunisa lending a hand, they successfully liberate their leader and make good their escape.

However, this daring rescue mission does not go unnoticed. Alauddin, wounded but undeterred, senses danger lurking on the horizon. He confronts Ratan Singh, warning him that his mercy will soon turn to regret, but Ratan, true to his Rajput honor, refuses to strike a blow at one who is already down. The Khilji soldiers are alerted to the presence of their would-be attackers, and the stage is set for a fierce battle. Despite being outnumbered, the Rajputs, disguised as women, launch a bold attack that initially catches their foes off guard.

Although the initial assault is repelled, the Rajput ambushers fall victim to the Khilji army's ruthless response. As news of the rescue mission reaches Chittor, Padmavati is hailed as a hero for her role in saving Ratan Singh. However, this triumph is short-lived, as Alauddin, fueled by anger and a desire for revenge, sets his sights on Mehrunisa, imprisoning her for her complicity in the escape.

As the Khilji army closes in on Chittor, Alauddin and Ratan Singh engage in a one-on-one duel, their blades clashing in a display of martial prowess. Despite being wounded by Alauddin's treachery, Ratan Singh refuses to yield, ultimately falling to the arrows of Kafur, who strikes from behind. As his life slips away, Ratan Singh berates Alauddin for fighting dishonorably, and then succumbs to his mortal wounds.

In the aftermath of this devastating defeat, the Khilji army succeeds in capturing Chittor, but their victory is tempered by the bravery of its defenders - particularly the Rajput women who, led by Padmavati, perform a final act of defiance through the ancient ritual of jauhar.