shabab pe mai zara si sharab phaikunga
kisi hasi ki taraf ye gulab phaikunga
parda hai, parda hai, parda hai, parda hai
parda hai parda, parda hai parda
parda hai parda, parde ke pichhe, parda-nashi hai
parda nashi ko be-parda na kar dun to
aqabar mera nam nahi hai
parda hai parda, parda hai parda
parda hai parda, parda hai parda
parde ke pichhe, parda-nashi hai
parda nashi ko be-parda na kar dun to
aqabar mera nam nahi hai
parda hai parda, parda hai parda

mai dekhata hun jidhar, log bhi udhar dekhe
kahan thaharati hai ja kar, meri nazar dekhe

mere khabo ki shahazadi, mai hun aqabar ilahabadi
mai shayar hun hasino ka, mai ashiq mahajabino ka
tera daman, tera daman, tera daman, daman, daman
tera daman na chhod unga
mai har chilman, chilman, chilman
mai har chilman ko todunga
na dar zalim zamane se, ada se ya bahane se
zara apani surat dikha de, sama khubasurat bana de
nahi to tera nam le ke, tujhe koi ilzam de ke
tujhako is mahafil me rusava na kar dun to to to to
parda nashi ko be-parda na kar dun to
aqabar mera nam nahi hai
parda hai parda, parda hai parda
parde ke pichhe, parda-nashi hai
parda nashi ko be-parda na kar dun to
aqabar mera nam nahi hai
parda hai parda, parda hai parda

khuda ka shukr hai, chahara nazar to aya hai
haya ka rang nigaho pe, phir bhi chhaya hai
kisiki jan jati hai, kisiko sharm ati hai
kisiki jan jati hai, kisiko sharm ati hai
koi ansu bahata hai, to koi muskurata hai
satakar is tarah aqsar, maza lete hai ye dilabar
han yahi dastur hai inaka, sitam mashahur hai inaka
sitam mashahur hai inaka, sitam mashahur hai inaka
khafa ho ke chahara chhupa le, magar yad rakh husna-vale
jo hai ag teri javani, mera pyar hai sarz pani
mai tere gusse ko thada na kar dun
mai tere gusse ko thada na kar dun
parda nashi ko be-parda na kar dun to to to
aqabar mera nam nahi hai
parda hai parda, parda hai parda
parde ke pichhe, parda-nashi hai
parda nashi ko be-parda na kar dun to
aqabar mera nam nahi hai
parda hai parda, parda hai parda
parda hai parda, parda hai parda

Upon youth's flush, a whisper of wine I'll cast,
Towards beauty's gaze, a rose, my offering, fast.
Veil there is, veil, veil there is,
Veil there is, veil.
Veil is, veil, behind the veil, a veiled one rests,
If I unveil her not, her mystery possessed,
Akbar's not my name, not ever to be known.
Veil is, veil, veil there is,
Veil there is, veil.
Behind the veil, a veiled one resides,
If I unveil her not, her essence to confide,
Akbar is not my name, if such I fail to claim.
Veil is, veil, veil there is,

Wherever I gaze, eyes follow my sight,
To where my vision settles, in darkest night.
Of my dreams, a princess, Akbar I am,
Poet of beauty, in love’s grand slam.
Your embrace, your hold, your touch,
Your embrace, I’ll never relinquish much.
Every screen, I will shatter and tear,
Every screen, with courage and care.
Fear not the world's harsh judgment, their artful play,
Make this moment fair, and the world display,
Else, by your name, with accusation's sting,
In this gathering, disgrace to you I bring,
If I unveil her not, her hidden grace,
Akbar's not my name, in this time and space.
Veil is, veil, veil there is,
Behind the veil, a veiled one's gentle sighs,
If I unveil her not, to open her eyes,
Akbar is not my name, if the task I despise.
Veil is, veil, veil there is,

God's grace, her face, at last, now I see,
Shame's hue, in her eyes, still veiled in glee.
One life departs, another’s blush unfurls,
One life departs, as another curls.
Tears may stream, while some may smile anew,
Close, so near, these lovers' hearts imbue.
This their custom, their tyranny known,
Their tyranny, their cruelty is shown.
Her face, in anger, she hides from me,
Yet remember, fair beauty, for all to see,
If youth's fire burns, my love, a cooling flow,
If I cool your anger, your spirit to bestow,
If I calm your wrath, with a gentle art,
If I unveil her not, and tear apart,
Akbar is not my name, and I am apart.
Veil is, veil, veil there is,
Behind the veil, a veiled one’s hidden bliss,
If I unveil her not, and feel her kiss,
Akbar is not my name, and my soul I dismiss.
Veil is, veil, veil there is,
Veil there is, veil, veil there is, veil.