Paresh Rawal Issues Clarification Following Controversial Remarks

In a bold defense of his upcoming film, veteran actor Paresh Rawal has dismissed accusations that “The Taj Story” promotes religious division, insisting instead that the controversial movie presents verified historical facts about India’s most famous monument.

“There are no lies in ‘The Taj Story,’ nor is it an attempt to create a Hindu-Muslim divide,” the 70-year-old actor told PTI in an interview. He emphasized that the film relies on thorough research rather than fabricated drama, distinguishing it from other Indian cinema where “there is a lot of ‘hanky panky’ and lies.”

The film, directed by Tushar Amrish Goel and produced by CA Suresh Jha under Swarnim Global Service Pvt Ltd, has already sparked controversy even before its theatrical release this Friday. The controversy centers around the movie’s first poster, which depicted Rawal’s character removing the dome of the Taj Mahal with a statue of Lord Shiva emerging from within.

Explaining the provocative marketing approach, Rawal said: “The idea behind the poster is that there is a certain notion among people that it’s not the Taj Mahal. Some call it ‘Tejo Mahalaya.’ From a publicity point of view, the main purpose is to attract attention, create interest, desire, and then action.”

The film appears to explore the contentious theory that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple called “Tejo Mahalaya” before being appropriated by Mughal rulers. This theory gained prominence through P.N. Oak’s 1989 book “Taj Mahal: The True Story,” which claimed several major global monuments were originally Hindu temples. Oak’s petition to the Supreme Court to declare the monument a Hindu structure was dismissed.

While the exact narrative remains undisclosed, the producers have stated that the film addresses “questions and secrets buried behind the 22 sealed doors of The Taj Mahal” and “presents a chapter from Indian history that no one has ever dared to present before.”

Rawal was quick to emphasize that the film doesn’t question the aesthetic beauty of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. “We are not questioning the aesthetic part of the Taj Mahal or its beauty. We’re only questioning what really happened and how it was built,” he clarified. “When you see the Taj Mahal, it’s breathtakingly beautiful, that’s undeniable.”

The actor even suggested the film might boost tourism to the monument by stimulating curiosity. “When you raise certain questions, people’s curiosity grows. In fact, I think tourism will increase,” he said.

When confronted with criticisms that the film represents right-wing propaganda, Rawal referenced a dialogue from the movie itself: “Show people as much truth as is necessary. If you show more than that, they’ll dismiss it by saying that it is propaganda.” He added that other factual films have been similarly dismissed despite their authenticity.

The timing of the film is significant, coming during a period of heightened religious tensions and historical revisionism in India. The Taj Mahal, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in the 17th century as a mausoleum for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, has occasionally become a flashpoint in debates about India’s complex cultural heritage.

“The Taj Story” features a strong ensemble cast including Zakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sneha Wagh, and Namit Das alongside Rawal. As the film prepares for its nationwide release, audiences and critics alike await to see how it handles its controversial subject matter and whether it will indeed present new historical perspectives or further inflame existing divisions.

Rawal remains confident in the film’s reception: “People are intrigued, they’re curious. There’s a lot of eagerness about what we are trying to say in the movie… We’ll get to know things, learn things, and the misconceptions, the decades-old, cemented misunderstandings in people’s minds will go away.”