The Taj Story is a 2025 Indian Hindi-languagecourtroom drama film written and directed by Tushar Amrish Goel, and produced by CA Suresh Jha under the banner of Swarnim Global Services Pvt. Ltd.[3][4] It stars an ensemble cast of Paresh Rawal, Zakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, Namit Das, and Sneha Wagh.[5] The film delves into controversial questions surrounding the construction of the Taj Mahal, challenging conventional historical narratives about one of the world's most iconic monuments.[6]
The film was officially announced in November 2023 with its first-look poster.[citation needed] The poster depicted the Taj Mahal with a saffron flag atop it, and its reflection in the water forming a Shiv Linga.[10] Actor Paresh Rawal confirmed his involvement in the project on 28 May 2024 through a post on his X handle.[11]
Filming began on 20 July 2024.[12]Principal photography was carried out over 45 days across multiple real locations in northern India.[13] Major portions were shot in Dehradun and Agra, including sequences at the Taj Mahal, Mehtab Bagh, and surrounding areas. For certain scenes, flowers were desired, but the Archaeological Survey of India did not allow them to be brought inside the monument.[14] The shoot was completed in November 2024.[15]
Response and controversy
Historical accuracy debate
Following its announcement, The Taj Story attracted widespread criticism and trolling on social media, with many accusing the filmmakers and trade analyst Komal Nahta of promoting a contentious and divisive subject.[16] The film's narrative, which appears to draw inspiration from claims popularized by writer P. N. Oak, asserts that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple named Tejo Mahalaya.[17] These claims have been widely debunked by mainstream historians and archaeologists as pseudo-history lacking credible evidence. [18] India's Supreme Court dismissed Oak's petition to declare the Taj Mahal a Hindu temple, describing his views as a “bee in his bonnet.”[19]
Propaganda allegations
The film has been widely labeled as a propaganda piece promoting Hindutva narratives, with critics arguing it fuels communal tensions by challenging the established history of the Taj Mahal as a Mughal-era mausoleum built by Shah Jahan.[20][21] Social media reactions highlighted a scene in the trailer featuring a placard with the term “aunty-national,” which further intensified accusations of the film stoking divisive sentiments.[22] Critics, including those on platforms like X, compared the film to other controversial titles like The Kashmir Files, accusing it of pushing a right-wing agenda under the guise of historical revisionism.[10][23]
Poster backlash and disclaimers
The controversy escalated in September 2025 when Paresh Rawal shared a motion poster depicting a Shiva idol emerging from the Taj Mahal’s dome, prompting accusations of promoting conspiracy theories and religious division.[24][25] Following significant backlash, Rawal deleted the post and shared a disclaimer from Swarnim Global Services Pvt. Ltd., stating: “The movie does not deal with any religious matters, nor does it claim that a Shiv temple resides within the Taj Mahal. It focuses solely on historical facts.”[24] However, skeptics, including historians and social media users, argued that the film’s narrative aligns with Hindutva-driven myths, citing historical petitions like one filed in 2022 in Agra to investigate alleged Hindu temple remnants within the Taj Mahal.[26]
CBFC scrutiny
Due to its sensitive subject matter, the film faced rigorous review by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).[27] The clearance process spanned several months, with the CBFC requiring director Tushar Amrish Goel and producer CA Suresh Jha to submit detailed historical documents to substantiate the film’s claims about the Taj Mahal’s origins.[28][29] This level of scrutiny was noted as unusual, reflecting concerns about potential communal sensitivities.[30]
Institutional and legal pushback
The controversy surrounding The Taj Story mirrors broader debates in India about historical revisionism and communal narratives. Petitions, such as one filed in Agra in 2022, have sought to open locked rooms in the Taj Mahal to search for alleged Hindu idols or temple remnants, claims consistently refuted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which maintains the Taj Mahal is a Mughal-era mausoleum.[31][18] The ASI has also highlighted that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan paid Raja Jai Singh, not a Hindu Maharaja, for the land, debunking claims of temple appropriation.[26]
Screening
Before its commercial release, the film was previewed for Anil Agarwal, chairman of the Vedanta Group, and held special screenings at the House of Commons in London in April 2025.[32]
The teaser of the film was unveiled on 14 August 2025.[33][34]
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