Paresh Rawal’s ‘The Taj Story’ Sparks Controversy Over Poster Depicting Taj Mahal as Temple

Paresh Rawal’s upcoming film The Taj Story has ignited a heated debate after its poster showed him lifting the dome of the Taj Mahal with a statue of Lord Shiva emerging from it. The filmmakers clarified that the movie “does not deal with any religious matters” and focuses solely on historical questions.

Directed by Tushar Amrish Goel and produced by CA Suresh Jha under Swarnim Global Service Pvt Ltd, the film’s poster caption reads: “What if everything you’ve been taught is a lie? The truth isn’t just hidden; it’s being judged. Unveil the facts with #TheTajStory on 31st October in cinemas near you.”

The depiction drew backlash on social media, with users calling it “propaganda” and “fake,” arguing that the Taj Mahal is a 17th-century Mughal mausoleum and India’s shared heritage. Critics compared it to other controversial films like The Udaipur Files and The Bengal Files and expressed concern that it could fuel communal tensions.

Rawal, 70, a former BJP MP from Ahmedabad East (2014–2019), had previously shared a clip from the film questioning India’s intellectual and historical narrative, emphasizing the need to raise questions about the nation’s past.

The cast also includes Zakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sneha Wagh, and Namit Das. While the exact plot remains under wraps, the makers have claimed the film explores “the questions and secrets behind the 22 sealed doors of the Taj Mahal” and presents chapters of Indian history “that no one has dared to present before.”