Paresh Rawal's 'The Taj Story' Opens to Modest Box Office Numbers Amid Controversy

Paresh Rawal’s latest film, ‘The Taj Story’, hit cinemas on 31 October 2025. Directed byTushar Amrish Goel, the film dives into the mystery of the 22 sealed rooms inside the Taj Mahal and questions the history that people have long believed. Alongside Rawal, the film also starsZakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, Namit Das and Sneha Wagh in important roles.‘The Taj Story’ box office collection day 1According to Sacnilk, ‘The Taj Story’ earned an estimated Rs 1.04 crore (India net) on its first day at the box office. The figure marks a modest start for the mystery drama, which faced both excitement and scepticism from audiences due to its theme.‘The Taj Story’ controversy prior to releaseJust before its nationwide release, ‘The Taj Story’ found itself in the middle of controversy. Two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed, demanding a ban on the film and a review of its certification.The petitions claimed that the film misrepresented historical facts about the Taj Mahal.Despite the legal challenges, the makers stood firm. Both Paresh Rawal and Zakir Hussain addressed the controversy, making it clear that the film was well-researched and not made to create any religious or communal divide.Paresh Rawal defends the director’s research effortsSpeaking to NDTV, Paresh Rawal praised the director’s dedication and the depth of research that went into the script.He said, “Tushar (the director) came with amazing research. There is nothing hanky-panky in it. His sources were clearly mentioned, and I even checked with friends who confirmed the facts. From the very beginning, we made sure there would be no Hindu-Muslim jingoism in this film.”Rawal also stressed that the story deliberately avoids stirring unnecessary conflict. “There’s even a dialogue in the film where a character says, ‘Brother, it’s you journalists who make everything about Hindu and Muslim.There’s no Hindu-Muslim conflict here. This is about shared history,’” he explained.‘The Taj Story’ reviewThe Times of India gave ‘The Taj Story’ 2.5 out of 5 stars, calling it “an ambitious attempt that loses steam halfway.”The review stated, “It attempts to unravel what it calls the ‘real’ history of the Taj Mahal, suggesting through dramatized research and testimonies that the monument was once a palace owned by King Jai Singh and later acquired by Emperor Shah Jahan.The film uses its narrative to project this interpretation with conviction. The first half holds attention as Vishnu Das, the protagonist, fights to have his public interest litigation taken up by the court.But the second half becomes bogged down in repetitive arguments, counterarguments, and lengthy court scenes that dilute its impact. While it aims to challenge long-held narratives, it ultimately struggles to stay engaging as it keeps circling the same debate without fresh insight.”DISCLAIMER: The box office numbers in this article are compiled from our proprietary sources and diverse public data. While we strive for accuracy, all figures are approximate unless explicitly mentioned, offering a fair representation of the project's box office performance. We are open to feedback and suggestions on toientertainment@timesinternet.in.