Ruqeyya Begum - Positive or Negative?

She is sarcastic while talking to Jodha and never misses a chance to demean her with her condescending demeanor.

But at the other hand, She loves Raheem like her own child.

And she saved Jodha when Akbar was going to attack her with the sword.

So the million dollar question is.. is she an antagonist or a positive supporting character?

I don't think her intention was to save Jodha. She did that unconsciously, b/c in her mind Salima is the bigger culprit and a threat to her, b/c so far what she believes is that Jodha and Akbar both hate each other, and they are never gonna fall in love or like each other at all in the near future! (How wrong she would be proved in her face when the mighty, arrogant Akbar falls for Jodha later)! Ruqs will probably look back upon this incident and regret saving Jodha! B/c she has unconsciously just made a path for both these poor tortured souls of Jodha and Akbar to embark a journey of love and self discovery about their feelings for each other!

I feel she is a through and through negative character, but at the same time since in Akbar's eyes she is also his most "important" begum until now, she did that as a responsibility that she has to carry! B/c even I felt that if this incident had not taken place, and after Jodha's backlash on Akbar in the end of the episode, Jodha was developing a sort of cordial feeling for Akbar! But, this incident just proved a major setback in her feelings, and also the little respect she was beginning to have for Akbar. Let's see how it goes from here..😊

so she the woman of substance she had more higher values and dignity more than any women in harem

and she played important role in Akbar, salim and shah jahan life

so she is the real empress who was the back bome of 3 shehenshahs of her whole life time