The teaser of Paresh Rawal starrer ‘The Taj Story’ has created a stir on social media, not just for its visuals but also for its cinematography. In the teaser released on Thursday, Rawal is seen delivering a poignant monologue, asking, “After 79 years of independence, are we still slaves to intellectual terrorism?”
After the first motion poster sparked controversy and outrage on social media, the makers of the Paresh Rawal starrer ‘The Taj Story’ have released a new teaser of the film. The veteran actor shared the teaser on his social media account. According to the teaser, the film is “an untold story of the Taj Mahal,” which is based on historical facts. It is scheduled to release in cinemas on October 31.
Written and directed by Tushar Amrish Goel and produced by CA Suresh Jha under Swarnim Global Services Pvt. Ltd., the film aims to re-examine the origins of the Taj Mahal. However, netizens seem to be divided on the issue even before the film’s release.
Paresh Rawal shares a new teaser of ‘The Taj Story’:
Paresh Rawal captioned his X (formerly Twitter) account, “Every empire has a secret chamber. This October, the biggest mystery of the Taj Mahal is about to be unlocked. Dare to peek inside? #TheTajStoryTeaser Get it out now! Uncover the truth with #TheTajStory in your nearest cinema on October 31st!”
The teaser shows Paresh Rawal sitting opposite the Taj Mahal, his presence as imposing as the monument itself. In a powerful moment, Rawal muses, “The Taj Mahal is one of the greatest monuments in the world. For some, it is a tomb; for others, it is a temple.”
As Rawal delivers this controversial line, the background score subtly blends the sounds of ‘Azaan’ (the Islamic call to prayer) with the sound of temple bells and the playing of the Damru (a Hindu musical instrument). This aural contrast immediately sets up the film’s main conflict: the identity of the monument in the context of Hindu and Muslim historical claims.
The teaser ends by leaving the audience with a direct question: “Aapko kya lagata hai? (What do you think the story is?)” It invites the audience to engage with the mystery that the film promises to explore.
Controversy surrounding ‘The Taj Story’:
Earlier, the makers had released a motion poster, which showed the Taj Mahal and a Shiva idol emerging from its dome. Soon, it faced widespread criticism on social media.
The film addresses the long-standing theory, though widely refuted by mainstream historians and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple called ‘Tejo Mahalaya.’
An earlier motion poster, which depicted a Shiva idol emerging from the dome of the Taj Mahal, had caused a huge backlash on social media. The makers later removed the poster and issued a disclaimer stating that the film focuses only on historical facts and “does not deal with any religious issues, nor does it even claim that a Shiva temple is located within the Taj Mahal. It focuses only on historical facts. We would urge you to watch the film and form your own opinion. Thank you, Swarnim Global Services Pvt. Ltd.”
Another promotional material shared by Rawal questions whether Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan really built the Taj Mahal. “You know the monument, but do you know the story? The truth behind the world’s most beautiful wonder is about to be revealed,” Rawal captioned it.
Due to the sensitive nature of the subject, the film reportedly faced a lengthy investigation by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
‘The Taj Story’ X Reaction:
Immediately after the teaser was released, the hashtag #TheTajStory started trending on X. One user wrote, “#TheTajStory is going to make the libtards cry even more!”
Another strongly opposed the narrative, saying, “Nothing can change this fact: the Taj Mahal was built by Shah Jahan, and other traditional monuments of India were built by Muslim rulers who ruled for over 1000 years. Stop rewriting history, and stop spreading hatred between Hindus and Muslims using such cheap tactics; let people live.”
A third post expressed disbelief: “Is this a joke?? Now Indian cinema comedians are releasing a trailer of Lord Shiva emerging from the Taj Mahal. A country that claims to have the fourth largest economy is so obsessed with propaganda and fantasy that even propaganda would be ashamed. #TheTajStory”
Another wrote, “Artists unite hearts, not break them. Be true to your art, not your politics. How right is it to distort the country’s largest tourist attraction to further your political agenda? Shameful!”
However, not all reactions were critical. Some users expressed curiosity. “Unbelievable! The Taj Mahal has always held secrets, and a secret room seems to be mysterious. Counting down the days until October 31st to unveil it with #TheTajStory,” tweeted one. Meanwhile, another warned against political exploitation: “They divide us with fictional stories to blind us from reality.”
About ‘The Taj Story’:
Apart from Paresh Rawal, the upcoming film also stars Zakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sneha Wagh, and Namit Das in lead roles. The music for the film is being composed by Rahul Dev Nath and Rohit Sharma. The makers had earlier released a teaser to kick off the film’s promotions, which featured a courtroom sequence featuring Rawal in the title role. The Taj Story is gearing up to hit the theaters on October 31.
The film will release 10 days after Rawal’s other theatrical release, Thamma, which is Maddock’s latest foray into the horror comedy genre. Thamma is being directed by Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna and is being directed by Aditya Sarpotdar, who directed the superhit Munjya.
Apart from these films, Rawal will also be seen in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Bhooth Bangla and Hera Pheri 3, both directed by Priyadarshan.