Why Paresh Rawal’s Taj Has Unusually Angered Both the Right and the Left

It takes talent to upset one section of an audience with a film, but it takes something truly special to anger viewers across the entire political and ideological spectrum. Veteran actor Paresh Rawal’s upcoming courtroom drama, The Taj Story , seems to have done exactly that. Scheduled for theatrical release this Friday, the film has already sparked heated debates online, drawn official complaints, and ignited legal battles even before it hits the screens.

The Motion Poster That Started It All

The controversy around The Taj Story began when its motion poster was unveiled on September 29. The Hindi film’s promotional clip showed a striking image — a Lord Shiva idol emerging from the dome of the Taj Mahal. Within hours, social media was abuzz with outrage. Some accused the filmmakers of deliberately stirring old controversies linked to claims that the Taj Mahal, built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, was once a Hindu temple called “Tejo Mahalaya.”

The visual immediately triggered polarized reactions. While some right-wing users saw it as an assertion of “hidden truths,” many others, including historians and liberal commentators, slammed the makers for fanning communal sentiments and rewriting history for commercial gain.

Complaints and Legal Trouble

As the debate intensified, The Taj Story found itself in deeper trouble. A BJP leader filed an official complaint against the film with both the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The complaint alleged that the film could hurt religious sentiments and disturb communal harmony.

Adding to the makers’ woes, a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court seeking a stay on the film’s release. The petitioner claimed that the motion poster and the film’s premise distorted historical facts and could potentially inflame tensions between communities.

The Taj Story Makers’ Clarification

Facing mounting backlash, the makers of The Taj Story removed the controversial motion poster from social media and issued a disclaimer. According to their statement, the film “does not deal with any religious issue” and is focused solely on “historical facts.” The disclaimer urged viewers to watch the film and “form their own opinion,” emphasizing that The Taj Story does not claim that a Shiv temple exists within the Taj Mahal.

This attempt at damage control, however, did little to cool tempers. Many felt the clarification contradicted the visuals in the teaser and the earlier promotional material.

The U-Turn: A Teaser That Rekindled Debate

Just as the controversy seemed to settle, the filmmakers reignited it. On October 9, a new teaser of The Taj Story was released, showing Paresh Rawal as Vishnu Das, a local tourist guide who questions the true origins of the Taj Mahal. In a key dialogue, his character declares, “For some, the Taj Mahal is a tomb… and for some, it is a temple.”

He then poses a thought-provoking question to the audience: “What do you think is its story?”

This teaser once again divided opinion. Critics accused the filmmakers of playing both sides — denying any religious agenda while simultaneously using provocative themes to market the film. The right-wing camp claimed vindication, interpreting the dialogue as validation of their long-standing “Tejo Mahalaya” theory. Meanwhile, secular and liberal voices saw it as an attempt to legitimize historical revisionism under the guise of artistic freedom.

The Trailer and the Courtroom Drama

The full trailer, released on October 16, further expanded on the film’s premise. Paresh Rawal’s character Vishnu Das files a case demanding a “DNA test” of the Taj Mahal to determine its true origins. What follows is a heated courtroom drama where faith clashes with evidence, and mythology collides with recorded history.

Director Tushar Amrish Goel appears to frame The Taj Story as an exploration of the tension between belief and documented history. However, critics argue that the film risks trivializing a sensitive cultural debate for entertainment value.

Echoes of Past Controversies

This isn’t the first time an Indian film has become a lightning rod for controversy before release. Many have compared The Taj Story to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat (2018), which faced violent protests from both Rajput groups and historians over alleged distortions of historical facts. Like Padmaavat, The Taj Story has become a battleground where artistic expression, religious sensitivity, and historical accuracy collide.

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Why It Has Offended Both Sides

Interestingly, The Taj Story has managed to offend both the right and the left. The right-wing camp feels the film doesn’t go far enough in asserting the “temple theory,” accusing it of backing away under pressure. The left, on the other hand, sees it as a dangerous attempt to communalize history and spread misinformation.

This rare overlap of outrage underscores how sensitive the Taj Mahal remains as a cultural and political symbol. To many, it represents the pinnacle of Mughal architecture and India’s syncretic heritage; to others, it’s a monument shrouded in contested narratives.

As The Taj Story approaches its theatrical release, all eyes are on how audiences will receive it. Will it be remembered as a bold exploration of historical debates or dismissed as a controversial gimmick designed to court publicity?

Either way, Paresh Rawal’s The Taj Story has already made history of its own — by angering both the right and the left before a single ticket has been sold.