Coordinates: 33°6′N 44°6′E / 33.1°N 44.1°E / 33.1; 44.1

The Akkadian Empire (Akkadian ^URUAkkad KI, Hittite KUR A.GA.DÈ.KI "land of Akkad"; Biblical Hebrew אַכַּד Akkad) was an empire centered in the city of Akkad (Sumerian: Agade) and its surrounding region in Mesopotamia.

During the 3rd millennium BC, there developed a very intimate cultural symbiosis between the Sumerians and the Akkadians, which included widespread bilingualism.Akkadian gradually replaced Sumerian as a spoken language somewhere around the turn of the 3rd and the 2nd millennium BC (the exact dating being a matter of debate).

The Akkadian Empire reached its political peak between the 24th and 22nd centuries BC, following the conquests of its founder Sargon of Akkad (2334–2279 BC). Under Sargon and his successors, Akkadian language was briefly imposed on neighboring conquered states such as Elam. Akkad is sometimes regarded as the first empire in history, though there are earlier Sumerian claimants.^{[citation needed]}

The precise archaeological site of the city of Akkad has not yet been found.^{[citation needed]} The form Agade appears in Sumerian, for example in the Sumerian King List; the later Assyro-Babylonian form Akkadû ("of or belonging to Akkad") was likely derived from this. The etymology and meaning of Akkad (written a.ga.dè^KI or URI^KI) are unknown. Centuries later, the neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus mentioned in his archaeological records that Ishtar's worship in Agade was later superseded by that of the goddess Anunit, whose shrine was at Sippar—suggesting proximity of Sippar and Agade. Despite numerous searches, the city has never been found. One theory holds that Agade was situated opposite Sippar on the left bank of the Euphrates, and was perhaps the oldest part of the city of Sippar. Another theory is that the ruins of Akkad are to be found beneath modern Baghdad. Reputedly it was destroyed by invading Gutians with the fall of the Akkadian Empire.

Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great "the Great King" (Akkadian Šarru-kīnu, meaning "the true king" or "the king is legitimate"), was a Semitic Akkadian emperor famous for his conquest of the Sumerian city-states in the 23rd and 22nd centuries BC. The founder of the Dynasty of Akkad, Sargon reigned in the last quarter of the third millennium BC. He became a prominent member of the royal court of Kish, killing the king and usurping his throne before embarking on the quest to conquer Mesopotamia. He was originally referred to as Sargon I until records concerning an Assyrian king also named Sargon (now usually referred to as Sargon I) were unearthed.

Sargon's vast empire is thought to have included large parts of Mesopotamia, and included parts of modern-day Iran, Asia Minor and Syria. He ruled from a new, but as yet archaeologically unidentified capital, Akkad (Agade), which the Sumerian king list claims he built (or possibly renovated). He is sometimes regarded as the first person in recorded history to create a multiethnic, centrally ruled empire, although the Sumerians Lugal-anne-mundu and Lugal-zage-si also have a claim. His dynasty controlled Mesopotamia for around a century and a half.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui (Hindi: नवाज़ुद्दीन सिद्दीक़ी, Urdu: نواز اُلدین صِدٌیقی, also known as Nowaz) is an Indian actor who has appeared in some of Bollywood's major films including, Black Friday, New York, Peepli Live, and Kahani. He will be appearing in Aamir Khan's 2012 release, Talaash (2012 film). Siddiqui is a graduate of The National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, India. He worked in theatre for many years before moving to films.

Ayesha Takia (Hindi: आयेशा टाकिया आजमी; born Ayesha Takia on 10 April 1986) is an Indian actress who mainly appears in Bollywood films. Her film career started with Taarzan: The Wonder Car for which she won the Filmfare Best Debut Award (2004). She was highly acclaimed for her performance as a young widow in Dor (2006). She received commercial success with Wanted (2009).

Ayesha started her career with Shahid Kapoor in the "I am a Complan Girl!" advertising campaign and she also appeared in a music video, Falguni Pathak's Meri Chunarii Udd Udd Jaye, when she was fifteen. She then appeared in the video, Shake It Daddy when she was sixteen, which brought her to the attention of the film industry, and a few film offers followed. She signed a contract for Socha Na Tha. However, there were delays in making Socha Na Tha so the film Taarzan released first and was therefore her "debut" film. She won the Filmfare Best Debut Award in 2004 for her performance in Taarzan: The Wonder Car. She earned critical acclaim for her performance in Nagesh Kukunoor's Dor. She appeared in one Telugu film Super with Tollywood star Akkineni Nagarjuna.^{[citation needed]}