Just days ahead of its nationwide release, Paresh Rawal’s film The Taj Story has landed in controversy after two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed against it. Breaking his silence, the veteran actor has now responded to the allegations and clarified that the film does not promote any communal agenda.A BJP leader from Ayodhya has sought a ban on the film, claiming it is based on the same subject as a petition he had filed in the High Court in 2022. Another PIL by Shakeel Abbas demanded a review of the film’s certification and called for a disclaimer stating that it “deals with a contested narrative and does not claim to be a definitive historical account.”However, on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court refused to grant an urgent hearing to the plea.
“There is nothing hanky-panky in it”
In an interview with NDTV, Paresh Rawal and co-star Zakir Hussain addressed the controversy, emphasizing that the film is based on extensive research and aims to promote understanding, not division.Tushar (the director) came with amazing research. There is nothing hanky-panky in it, Rawal said. “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.”
“It’s about shared history, not conflict”
Rawal further revealed that the film consciously avoids polarising themes. “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.Sharing another moment from the film that captures its core message, he added, “When someone says, ‘What should we do with this?’ another replies, ‘Break it.’ Then a character says, ‘No, brother, we’re not the ones who destroy. Not even a scratch should come to it. Every problem cannot be solved by breaking or destroying things. Sometimes, acceptance itself is a big thing.’”Zakir Hussain, who stars alongside Rawal, reiterated that The Taj Story is based on documented history. “The acceptance is based on facts written by Shah Jahan himself. We’re not saying he built something bad; he made something magnificent. But what was it actually? Why hide it, and from whom?” he said.
“We never intended to create controversy”
Addressing the petitions, Paresh Rawal clarified that the intent behind the PIL was not malicious. “That PIL wasn’t filed to stop the film. They just wanted the judiciary to watch it once. But the film already has a CBFC certificate. Even the judiciary understands all this; they’re not foolish,” he said.He further added, “We never intended to create any Hindu-Muslim controversy. Would anyone invest so much money just to create communal trouble? You can cause a riot for far less!”Directed by Tushar Amrish Goel, The Taj Story stars Paresh Rawal and Zakir Hussain in lead roles. The film, which aims to present a reflective take on India’s shared cultural heritage, releases nationwide on October 31, 2025. Go to Source
