Mumbai: Paresh Rawal’s much-discussed film The Taj Story opened to a modest yet promising start at the box office, earning ₹1.04 crore on its first day. Despite facing legal hurdles and public backlash prior to release, the historical drama managed to draw audiences intrigued by its controversial premise.
Released on October 31, the film delves into the debated origins of the Taj Mahal, exploring whether the iconic monument is a tomb or a temple. The storyline weaves together themes of history, faith, and mystery surrounding one of India’s most famous landmarks.
According to early estimates from industry tracker Sacnilk, The Taj Story recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 14.75% on November 1, with expectations of higher turnout during evening and night shows. Day 2 projections suggest the film could add around ₹0.19 crore to its total, maintaining a steady hold at the box office.
The film is currently facing stiff competition from Ayushmann Khurrana’s Thamma, Harshvardhan Rane’s Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, and re-releases of Shah Rukh Khan’s classics such as Devdas and Om Shanti Om, which hit theatres again as part of his birthday week celebrations.
Before its release, The Taj Story found itself at the centre of multiple Public Interest Litigations (PILs) seeking a ban, alleging that it could disrupt communal harmony. The Delhi High Court, however, dismissed the petitions, allowing the film’s release. The controversy intensified after the poster depicting a Shiva idol emerging from the Taj Mahal’s dome went viral on social media.
Directed by Anant Saraswat, the film stars Paresh Rawal in the lead, alongside Zakir Hussain, Amruta Khanvilkar, Shrikant Verma, Brijendra Kala, Karamveer Choudhary, Garima Agarwal, Shishir Sharma, Namit Das, Akhilendra Mishra, Abhijeet Lahiri, and Latika Verma.
With a mix of curiosity and controversy surrounding it, The Taj Story has begun its theatrical journey on a cautious but noteworthy note.
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