Eklavya Movie Stills
Eklavya: The Royal Guard is a Bollywood film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Sharmila Tagore, Sanjay Dutt, Sourabh Joshi, Vidya Balan, Raima Sen, Jackie Shroff, Jimmy Shergill and Boman Irani. The film marks Vidhu Vinod Chopra's return to directing after seven years. The film is set in contemporary India. For nine generations Eklavya's (Amitabh Bachchan) family has guarded the Kings of Devigarh. He has only one purpose: to protect the Devigarh dynasty, the fort and the king. Eklavya has vowed to himself that whatever secrets he knows of the family will die with him on his funeral pyre. Having served the royal family all his life, he is getting old and blind.

The heir of the throne, Prince Harshwardhan (Saif ali Khan) tired of the unfair customs ruling the land escaped to London but reluctantly returns for the funeral of his mother Queen Suhasinidevi (Sharmila Tagore). The kingdom is overjoyed with his return as is his mentally challenged twin sister, Princess Nandini (Raima Sen) and his childhood sweetheart Rajjo (Vidya Balan).

However the kingdom is torn because the farmers are being stripped of their lands. King Rana Jaywardhan (Boman Irani) along with his brother Rana Jyotiwardhan (Jackie Shroff) support the injustice to the farmers. The king receives a death threat over the phone. Pannalal Chohaar (Sanjay Dutt) investigates the threat to the king but with the kingdom already in turmoil his help may be too late. As carnage breaks the secrets of the Devigarh dynasty are revealed...

Characters

Eklavya - Eklavya was named by his mother after his father's death. He comes from a long line of royal bodyguards and is entrusted with his father's dagger. He lives for one thing only- to protect the Rana family at all costs. However with old age he is getting blind, will he be able to protect the family?

Harshwardhan - He is the only son of King Rana Jaywardhan and Queen Suhasinidevi. Having escaped the traditions of the land he returns for his mother's funeral. At his mother's request he fulfills her final wish and remains in the heavily guarded Devigarh fort. He must deal with the deception and lies that surround him with the help of his sister Nandini and his love Rajeshwari.

Pannalal Chohaar - Pannalal comes from a low caste family, he has worked to get to the high ranks of society. He is asked to investigate a death threat that was made towards the king and is quickly drawn into a dangerous conspiracy.

Rajeshwari - Rajeshwari is the daughter of the royal chauffeur, though she is seen as a close confidente of the queen. Her closest friends are Nandini and Harshwardhan who she harbours a secret love for. The queen entrusts her with a letter only to be given to Harshwardhan. It is not long before she is dragged into the madness that unfolds.

Jyotiwardhan - He is the younger brother of the king and also his chief advisor. He slowly influences his elder brother to the point where the land is in turmoil. Everything is happening for his own purpose which is to overthrow the king.

Rana Jaywardhan - He is the ruling king of the country. Haunted by his own failures he has one purpose- to get rid of the nobles and more importantly Eklavya.

Udaywardhan - He is the son of Jyotiwardhan and joins his father in the plot to overthrow the king. He hates the fact that he is a minor royal and that Harshwardhan has a much higher status then him. This leads him to deeply hate his cousin.

Nandini - Nandini is the mentally challenged daughter of the king and queen. Her closest friends and allies are her brother Harshwardhan and Rajeshwari. Nandini witnesses a brutal murder but will she be heard?

Suhasinidevi - loved by all, her sudden and mysterious death plunges the country into darkness.

Omkar Singh - the Royal chauffeur, who is Rajeshwari's father.

Trivia

In the film, Queen Suhasinidevi is the mother of Prince Harshwardhan. The actress who portrays the queen, Sharmila Tagore, is the mother of the actor who portrays the prince, Saif Ali Khan. They will share screen space for the first time since Aashiq Awara. Sharmila Tagore is the wife of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the Nawab of Pataudi, making her a queen and her son a prince in real life.

Expressing gratitude to Amitabh Bachchan for his "stunning" performance in the movie, the film's director Vidhu Vinod Chopra has gifted the actor a Rolls Royce Phantom worth Rs 3.5 crore.

This is the second movie to star Vidya Balan, Saif Ali Khan and Raima Sen all together, the first movie was Parineeta (2005 film).