How different was the real Birbal from folklore?

 Very very different. The Akbar Birbal Stories get a lot of things wrong.

Akbar is shown as a fat, old man and Birbal as a young lean man. Birbal didn't looked like the way he is shown. Birbal was 14 years older than Akbar. Birbal was born in 1528 and Akbar in 1542.

Birbal is often shown in stories cribbing about money and finding ways to get gifts and rewards from Akbar. He is sometimes also shown as a poor man before entering the Mughal court. Historically, Birbal became prosperous after getting married to a rich woman and thus never had money problems. So Birbal was economically well off even before he met Akbar.

Birbal was not the most senior or influential official in the Mughal period. He was the one closest to Akbar personally which allowed him to live close to Akbar’s palace, a privilege not accorded to other senior officials. But Birbal had a rank of 2000 mansabdari which was good enough rank but lower than the likes of Man Singh, Todarmal, Rahim Khan E Khana and Abul Fazl etc.

The biggest enemy of Birbal in these shows is shown to be Mulla Do Pyaza, a man whose historicity is contested. According to most of the historians, Mulla Do Pyaza was a character created by the Muslim clerics as a competition to the Akbar Birbal Stories as Birbal was a Hindu. Historically the biggest detractor of Birbal was Badauni who has used the choicest of abuses for Birbal in his work Muntkhab ul Tawarikh.

Also in most of the shows on Akbar Birbal, Birbal is often shown as some sort of a spy who solved the puzzles and problems in the court. Birbal came to Akbar's court after recommendation from a local ruler, and was employed as a poet. He was given the title Kavi Priya, before he was given the title Raja Birbal (named after Virvar of Betaal Pacchisi). Birbal was not a spy or judge, he was a poet and later a close advisor of Akbar.

Lastly, Akbar Birbal Stories often show Birbal saving the life of Akbar through his wit. Historically it was Akbar who saved the life of Birbal twice in expeditions. Birbal was not a military commander by training and therefore he was brutally murdered in 1586 where he was sent on expedition.

How are apsaras described in Hindu folklore?

 Actually the word “Apsara” has been very wrongly interpreted. People make fun of this term without even knowing its Vedic meaning. People think Apsara’s are just some celestial nymphs. The Vedic definition of what the word Apsara actually means is completely different.

Please do read what the Vedas describe Apsara’s to be. It will break all disgusting delusions people have built.

The woman who is the bringer of victory, who removes obstacles and resolves all difficulties is an Apsara according to the Vedic Dharma. This has been directly stated in the Atharva Veda.

Atharva Ved 4.38.1

Udbhindatīṃ saṃjayantīm apsarāṃ sādhudevinīm.
Glahe kṛtāni kṛṇvānām apsarāṃ tām iha huve.

“I invoke here that Apsarā, the virtuous and divine one, she who brings victory and removes obstacles; who unties what has been bound and resolves difficulties.

The woman who celebrates the joy of life with dance and music, who is empowered with intelligence is an Apsara. She who helps to recover what is lost is an Apsara.

Atharva Ved 4.38.3

Yayaiḥ pariṇṛtyaty ādadānā kṛtaṃ glahāt.
Sā naḥ kṛtāni siṣṭi prahām āpnotu māyayā.
Sā naḥ payasvaty ait u mā no jaiṣur idaṃ dhanam.

Apsara who, with her noble acts, rejoices and celebrates life in song and dance, collecting and consolidating the achievements of her performance in the evolutionary struggle of life, may, we pray, guiding and organising our actions, achieve further progress by her wonderful power and intelligence. May she, abounding in the waters and food of life continue to come and bless us so that none may win away this wealth of achievement from us.

The woman who is glorious like the sun, who is mighty and is a protector is an Apsara.

Atharva Ved 4.38.5

Sūryasya raśmīn anu yāḥ saṃcaranti marīcīrvā
yā anu saṃcaranti. Yāsām ṛṣabho dūrato vājīnīvān
sadyaḥ sarvāṃl lokān paryeti rakṣan.
Sā na etu homam imaṃ juṣāṇo ’ntarikṣeṇa saha vājīnīvān.

The divine Apsarā herself, radiant and sovereign, moves along the rays of the Sun and pervades all directions with light. Her own mighty, swift power, like a noble steed, from afar instantly traverses all the worlds, guarding and protecting them. May that Apsarā come to us now, graciously accepting this sacred offering, descending through the mid-region of space with her radiant, life-giving might.

Please understand that a woman who not just excels in physical beauty but excels in all aspects like administration, intellect, protection, knowledge, arts is defined as an Apsara. The Apsara in Vedic terms is a lady who is an absolute mistress of femininity.

Namo Narayana 🙏🏻🪔🌸🦅

Hara Hara Mahadeva 🙏🏻🪔📿🔱