In 1607 at Agra's Meena bazaar, the private market attached to the royal harem, a tall, slender Arjumand Banu caught the eyes of charming Prince Khurram. She was 14 and he 15. The very next day, Khurram went up to his father, Emperor Jahangir, and expressed desire to marry her. The Emperor agreed, but not his queen, Khurram's step-mother Noor Jahan and, incidently, Arjumand's aunt. So it took full five years and a marriage before Khurram could marry the love of his life. In time, Khurram took the title of Shah Jahan and Arjumand became Mumtaz Mahal, i.e. "beloved ornament of the palace".

Unlike her politically ambitious aunt, Mumtaz was generous and yet bold enough to accompany Shah Jahan to battlefields. She also loved to see man in combat with animals. Mumtaz got only three years as queen after Shahjahan's accession to the throne. But during this period, she was a big force behind Shah Jahan's political actions, and, in fact, caused persecution of troublesome Portuguese at Hooghly.

Shah Jahan remained devoted to Mumtaz throughout the 19 years of their married life. She bore him 14 children, 7 of whom died in infancy. She died after giving birth to a daughter in 1630 in Burhanpur, where she had accompanied Shah Jahan on a campaign. Legend has it that on her deathbed Mumtaz asked Shah Jahan to erect a monument to their love. Heartbroken Shah Jahan lived long enough to fulfill Mumtaz's word.