History Lives On: Kashmir’s lost kingdoms resurface through Akul Tripathi’s lens

For Akul Tripathi, history is not just a collection of dates and dynasties, it’s about people, their stories, and the legacies that continue to echo through time. Best known for hosting the acclaimed documentary series Ekaant, where he explored India’s abandoned monuments, Tripathi now shifts his focus to the figures who once shaped those silent ruins. In Ek Tha Raja, Warner Bros. Discovery’s latest Indian original series, Tripathi explores the lives of kings and empire-builders, beginning with one of Kashmir’s most legendary yet under-recognised monarchs Lalitaditya Muktapida. Lalitaditya, who ruled in the 8th century CE, established a vast empire stretching from Central Asia to the Tibetan plateau. For Tripathi, the journey to rediscovering this historical figure began long before cameras started rolling. “I personally love Kashmir. I first visited in 2007, and it was at Martand that I first heard of Lalitaditya,” he told Rising Kashmir in an exclusive interview. “I gradually realised he wasn’t just a local ruler, he was a great empire-builder. Since then, I knew I had to bring his story to life. We were clear, we wouldn’t end the season of “Ek Tha Raja with Akul Tripathi” without doing something on him.” Tripathi began his career as a child actor with roles in popular television shows like Saans and Sonpari, later transitioning to films with a notable appearance in Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani (2009). In “Ek Tha Raja with Akul Tripathi”, Warner Bros Discovery’s latest Indian original series, he ventures into the world of kings and empire-builders, starting with Kashmir’s legendary monarch, Lalitaditya Muktapida. The episode, significantly longer than others in the series, was released on Independence Day, August 15, as a tribute to a monarch who carried Kashmir’s identity far beyond its borders. Unlike Ekaant, which delved into the ruins of India’s forgotten places, “Ek Tha Raja with Akul Tripathi” focuses on the personalities who once brought those spaces to life. For Tripathi, telling Lalitaditya’s story was as much about vision as it was about conquest. “Kashmir’s geopolitical importance during his reign was extraordinary,” he said. “We don’t have much direct documentation on him—most of what we know comes from Kalhana’s Rajatarangini. While not everything is clear, it’s enough to understand his scale. He was a king who carried Kashmir’s culture across Central Asia, and his image remained alive for centuries.” Tripathi also credited the success of the series to the passion and teamwork of the people behind the scenes. “There’s a whole bunch of people—directors, producers, researchers, and the Janta-e-Kashmir production house led by Aqib. “Ek Tha Raja with Akul Tripathi” is collective storytelling at its best.” The episode has resonated with viewers, especially younger audiences. “The response on social media has been amazing,” Tripathi shared. “Some viewers didn’t even know about Martand or Parihaspora. Others were aware but eager to learn more. Many were amazed to see 1,500 years of history come alive. That curiosity is exactly what we hoped to spark.” Asked whether Kashmir’s youth can relate to a king who lived over a millennium ago, Tripathi is confident. “Absolutely. Anyone who wants to take something from this story will find it. Lalitaditya built an empire from Bukhara to Tibet in an age without any modern tools. If he could do that, imagine what Kashmiri youth can achieve today—with the world at their fingertips. The 21st century is a century of rediscovery.” Tripathi’s fascination with Kashmir’s past doesn’t end with Lalitaditya. He’s eager to explore more chapters of its rich and complex history. “We’d definitely like to tell more stories—on Maharaja Gulab Singh, on Maharaja Hari Singh. Kashmir is full of narratives that need to be revisited. History comes with myths, but by working with historians and reliable sources, we try to show what really happened. There’s so much more to explore.” For Tripathi, history isn’t about the past alone—it’s about shaping identity in the present. By reconnecting with figures like Lalitaditya, he believes Kashmiris—and Indians as a whole—can find strength, pride, and direction. “History isn’t dead. It lives in us,” he said. “When we rediscover our past honestly, we rediscover ourselves.”