Netizens are criticizing the motion poster for Paresh Rawal's upcoming Hindi-language film The Taj Story, accusing it of promoting a debunked conspiracy theory that the Taj Mahal was originally a Hindu temple.
The poster of the Hindi movie depicts Paresh Rawal lifting the dome to reveal a Lord Shiva idol emerging from inside, which many view as inflammatory propaganda that distorts historical facts.
Users on X have called it "fake," "disgusting," and an attempt to portray the Taj Mahal as a religious site. In response to the backlash, Paresh Rawal deleted his original post and shared a clarification from the makers stating the film focuses on historical facts, not religious matters or temple claims, urging viewers to watch and judge for themselves.
In 2017, Paresh Rawal himself tweeted that propagating that the Taj Mahal was previously a Shiva temple was a distraction. "The Taj Mahal, Symbol of Love becomes the symbol of Hate !!! Stupid n unnecessary n sad n pathetic controversy! (sic)," he wrote at that time.
The film is slated to hit the cinemas on October 31st. Since Baahubali: The Epic is going to be released on the same day, it is likely that The Taj Story will receive any traction. Even otherwise, it might fail to find a theatrical audience, considering that Hindutva narratives in movies have not guaranteed success in recent months.
